CITY AND PORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16845, 22 September 1922, Page 6

CITY AND PORT.

The deputation of Canterbury members which waited on 311' Blassey yesterday to discuss improved copmum‘ca—tinns between the ciiy and 'the port was not. treated with that urbanicy which usually distinguishes the Prime Llinister. Mr Blaasey seemed to Ibe amazed that he should be approached on the subjaot, and appeared to be un—der the impression that the Canberbui'y public should be satisfied with what has been done. He talked of a new station at Wellington as if the fate of the railways depended on such a. building being erected, and prob--ably forgefiting that Wellington’s ramshwkle building can be matched in Christchurch. The improvement. of communications is more important just now than the building of new stations. The Government has long ago admitted

that. there should be something better. and the matter has been pressed on the notice of euccasive Ministers by various deputation; It is time that the Government made up its mind to deal with the pyoblem instead of tinkering with it. The traffic between Christchurch end. Lytelton demands something more advanced than the Hiley scheme, and certainly the technical branches of the Railway Department lave a. scheme which is more in keeping with modern requirements. The slowness of the Government to move may force the city To take up the canal scheme in serious earnest. The menace of competition might stir the Government into a display of feverish activity, but it might come too late.