THE RAILWAY DEVIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 250, 21 October 1937, Page 6

THE RAILWAY DEVIATION

Sir,—There is a possibility that your correspondent, “Anti-CoasUJ,” has an axe to grind, but that u of no concern at present. In his view It is apparently fit and proper that Ammoho should be on the main line and Wanganui on the branch instead of lhe reverse—Wanganui on me main line and Aramoho, its satellite, on the branch. He believes, in brief, that the tail should wag the dog. But “A.-C.” should rememoer that if the dog is killed even the tail will not wag. “A.-C.” is somewhat perturbed about the railway workshops and certain factories at Aramoho. It is not the intention of the coastal deviationists to turn the town inside out promiscuously. What they suggest is that the initial move should aim at laying a secure foundation upon which, step by step, the transformation would proceed in stages. It may not be necessary to take up the branch line a right away, if at all, or even demolish the railway workshops. The workshops, for instance, could be allowed to wear out or become obsolete before new buildings were erected on a site held for the purpose adjacent to the new railway. Same with the engine sheds. Tne present buildings could be used, even at some inconvenience, until they were no longer useful when the transfer would be made to the new site. In business it is sometimes lound more economical to allow a machine to wear out so that it can be replaced by modern equipment than to attempt* to patch up the machine indefinitely. it is necessary, however, to plan for the future. If the foundation is laid aright the rest will be comparatively easy. Wanganui has a rignt to be placed on tne main line of railway and the most suitable place for such line is south of the city (where the principal business of the future will oe done) and on the shortest line between adjacent centres of population. Apropos your suggestion with regard to a regional plan for the city; This unquestionably is what is re- v quired at the present stage of the I town’s development. If a single dividual could be trusted to carry out such a task well and good. But I think the responsibility would be toe great for one man. An investigatory and advisory commission with judicial powers would probably do the work oetter and their finding would carry more authority. The result of the hurried inspection that was made recently by the Railway Department may prove a disappointment. As the department is already committed la another roate it is possible that the coastal line will not receive the consideration it deserves. In this instance the prisoner at the bar is also and jury as well as Lord High Executioner.—l am, etc., "JUSTICE TO WANGANUI.”