GREYTOWN RAILWAY.

Wairarapa Age, 12 August 1930, Page 5

GREYTOWN RAILWAY.

REPRESENTATIONS TO MEMBER FOR DISTRICT. OPPOSITION TO CLOSING BRANCH. A conference was held in Greytown yesterday between representatives of local bodies and Colonel T. W. McDonald concerning the decision to close the Greytown branch of railway. There were present: 'The Mayor (Mr. H. T. Rees), Messrs. W. A. Tate (Borough Council), J. -F. Thompson and W. H. Day (Chamber of Commerce), and H. C. Cook (Greytown Dairy Company). The delegates present pointed out that they did not expect the Government to rar lines at a loss, but disagreed with the methods adopted. The Railways Department had written asking for delegates to be appointed to give evidence before a Commission set up to deal with the proposed curtailment of branch lines. The Borough Council had appointed its delegate and had also called a public meeting at which other delegates had been appointed to represent the various interests. The Railways Department had been written to and notified twice-, but no reply had been received. The only intimation was the Minister’s statement in the Press that the line was to be cut out. This appeared to be in the nature of a conviction without a trial. Colonel McDonald, in reply, stated that after hearing from the Town Clerk he got into immediate touch with the Minister for Railways and had induced him to issue instructions that no action be taken until such time as the people of the district had time to make representations to the Government. Colonel McDonald made alternative suggestions for’ a modified service or a suitable substitute, which met with the approval of the meeting, and he intends to lay these proposals before the Minister. The meeting thanked Colonel McDonald for his prompt action in the matter.