MT. SOMERS RAILWAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18618, 14 July 1930, Page 6

MT. SOMERS RAILWAY

CURTAILMENT PROPOSED. MEETING OF SETTLERS. ’in accordance with its economy programme, the Railway Department decided to close the Mt. SomersSpringburn section of the Mount Somers branch line. As there is no motor lorry competition with the line, the local branch of the Farmers’ Union got in touch with the member for the district, Mr T. D. Burnett, in Wellington, pointing out that the whole line had but recently being relaid (with 701 b rails from the main line), and*the abandonment of the section would mean that all this costly relaying work would be thrown away, as well as the shifting of the engine shed, turntable, and four departmental cottages. Mr Burnett interviewed the Minister of Railways, and on his (Mr Burnett’s suggestion), a responsible officer of the Department was sent down to meet the farmers and residents. As a result a large gathering of Springburn people met the Divisional Superintendent of South Island Railways, Mr Kent, and Mr Burnett in the goods sheds at the terminus of the line, Springburn, on Saturday last. A fine spirit was shown by the settlers, Joeing apparent that the people realised the grave difficulties confronting the railways in a steadily shrinking revenue and increasing working costs, and the Department’s endeavours to give service. It came out during the meeting that the Mt. Somers line was built 40 years ego, and that for many years the line enjoyed a very substantial revenue from sawmilling, firewood, grain, chaff and wool freights. With the decline in grain growing and the cutting out of the bush, the line of late years has shown a steadily mounting loss per annum, until this year the loss had mounted up to £IO,OOO a substantial portion of which, however, was directly due to this year’s cost of relaying. On the Springburn-Mt. Somers section of the line the daily average of of bulk goods hauled during the last six months amounted to only three tons five cwt., while 3500 sheep 'were trucked during that period. At the conclusion of the meeting it was moved by Mr Jas. MacFarlane:

‘‘That this meeting asks the Railway Department, in the event of it not being possible to continue the present services over the Springburn section of the line, to give a bi-weekly service.” It was moved as an amendment by Mr Kennedy that the service asked for be tri-weekly, it being pointed out that in order to be of any use to truckers of fat sheep for the Addington market, the service would have to be tri-weekly, Mr MacFarlane being agreeable, the amendment was put to ‘the meeting and carried unanimously

Mr Kent promised to lay all the facts before the General Manager.

Mr Burnett expresses the opinion that the section will be partially abandoned, so far as the high maintenance standard of the permanent way is concerned, and that the Department will run trains whenever the amount of goods or stock warrants a train.