CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9895, 27 January 1911, Page 5

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

LARGE AND REPRESENTATIVE

GATHERING

The conference of representatives from Chambers of Commerce and local [bodies between Martinborough and Woodville was continued yesterday afternoon atfer we went to press. There were present :—Messrs F. W. Carey, W. J. Welch (Masterton County Council), W A. Kitchen (Carterton Chamber of Commerce), Tait (Featherston Town Board), Dudson (Carterton), Wilkinson (Featherston County Council), F. W. Kummer (Mauriceville), T. Moss (Eketahuna County County Council"), W. C. Buchanan M.P., _. H. Herbert and J. A. Haswell (Eketahuna), Loasby (Greytown), A. W. Hogg M.P.. A. Henderson, A. P. Webster, and Hayes (Greytown), J. M. Ooradine (Mayor of Masterton), and G. O. Summerell.

Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Ross, M.P., Mr Tewsley, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and Mr O. E. Daniell. After we had gone to press yesterday the proceedings were as follows :—

Mr Herbert stated that the requirements of the Eketahuna people were materially different to those of the people of Masterton. and might clash to some extent with the proposed timetable. At the same time, they did not propose to criticise the suggested timetable in a hostile spirit. The trains met in Masterton and stayed there, making Masterton the. centre of the Wairarapa. which, perhaps, was only right. But at the same time, there was a feeling of estrangement creeping in among the people north of Masterton in consequence. What they wished was that the present 7.30 a.m. train from Masterton should start from Woodville. As an argument in favour of this he stated that lately a special train had been running every day from there to cope with the extra traffic. At present there were three trucks of sheep at Eketahuna that had been waiting since Monday to get to the new freezing works at Waingawa, while there were ten trucks of lambs on the line between Masterton and Eketahuna, aud 50 trucks of sheep waiting to get away. It would'not harm the Masterton people if the late train from Wellington went on to Woodville and returned next morning instead of stopping at Masterton. At present the people north of Wairarapa could not get to Wellington and back in less thau three days, and it was in the interests of the people of Masterton to get an early train from Woodville.

Mr Loasby stated that Mr Hurbert struck a note in regard to Masterton, that would have been better left out. They were not present to consider Mastertou, but what was best for the whole of the Wairarapa. He moved that this meeting take into consideration the advisability of urging upon the Government, the necessity of getting the 4.45 a.m. train from Wellington reinstated.

Mr Carey suggested that they take the resolution later.

Mr Wilkinson stated that the train alluded to by Mr Loasby concerned the people of the Lower Valley more than any other, and he would have liked to see the matter discussed at once.

The second proposal was then taken. It read as follows:—With regard to the Wairarapa Wellington morning train, leaving Masterton at 7.30 a.m., it is desired that the old time of departure, 7 a.m., be reverted to, and that to minimise the effect of the unavoidable delay on the Rimu taka, a nonstop run be-made between Upper Hutt and Wellington, aud perhaps with advantage to the Department this could be a mixed heavy train. A like arrangement is suggested with the Wellingtou-Wairarapa evening train to leave Wellington at 4.7 p.m. instead of a.36 p.m. as at present. The stop at Kaitoke, it is suggested, might with advantage be cut out and the refreshment room placed at either Upper Hutt. Summit or Cross Creek, thus saving at least ten minutes of running time.

Mr Moss alluded to the necessity of getting an early train to start from Woodville, and stated that there should be cleaning sheds erected at Eketahuna, as at present a great deal of the goods from there was being sent through Palmerston North, and Eketahuna wasreally the pivot of the Wairarapa.

Mr Loasby stated that they might as well strike out the clause in the resolution applying to the stop at Kaitoke, as they hadn't any hope of getting the refreshment rooms removed.

Mr Buchanan then moved that resolution No. 2 be adopted, with the exception of the clause alluded to by Mr Loasby. He sympathised with the requirements of Eketahuna, and stated that the difficulty couid be overcome by starting $n early train from there at 6 a.m.

Mr Hogg thought they might strike out the resolution before the meeting. , Ministers of the Crown, he stated, were hard to move, and he thought the conference could not do better than endeavour to get oack the old time-table. They ought not to go too much into details, and lay down any starting time for the trains. That was a matter for detail, but he did think they ought to do all iv their power to get the old time-table back. At present he was convinced that the Department was losing mouey by sending traffic through the Gorge. He moved that the whole of the suggested time-table be deleted, and that the Department be asked to reinstate the old timetable.

Mr Loasby seconded the motion, and stated that he was convinced that this was the better way of working.

Mr Carey stated that this was what they were working for.

Mr Hogg stated that he had a great deal of sympathy for the people north of Masterton, and thought they had not been fairiy treated.

Mr Herbert moved as a further amendment, that the early train at present leaving Masterton at 7.30 a.m. leave Woodville or any other station north of Eketahuna at any time so that it would reach Masterton at 8 a.m.

It was decided that the clause alluding to the stop at Kaitoke in resolution No. 2 be deleted.

Mr Hogg stated, in reply to a question, that what he proposed was that the Minister be asked to reinstate, as far as possible, the old time-table, and to eudeavour to extend tiie Wairarapa service northwards.

Mr Buchanan stated that if this resolution were put, they would need to rescind the previous resolution in regard to taking the proposals before the conference seriatim.

Mr Hogg stated that there was not the slightest need for rescinding anything.

Mr Dudson stated that what was wanted was a train from Cross Creek to Palmerston, that would allow the people to get back in one day; one that would allow the people to get back from Wellington iv one day, and that they be enabled to connect with the Main Trunk trains each way.

Mr Summerell asked for the chair-

man's ruling in regard to the discussion. Mr Buchanan submitted that Mr Hogg'? resolution must be ruled out of order.

Mr Carey stated that he thought they would get aloug better if they took the proposals seriatim as at first decided. They were all iv sympathy with the Eketahuna people, and would do all in their power to help them. He ruled Mr Hogg's amendmsut out of order.

Mr Herbert's amendment in regard to the early train leaving Woodville or any other station north of Eketahuna and arriving in Masterton at 8 a.m. was withdrawn.

Mr Buchanan seconded the resolu tiou, which was carried.

Mr Herbert stated that the railway people must not be tied down to time, aud what he wanted was an early train from Woodville, to connect with the 7.30 a.m. traiu from Masterton. He did not want to stipulate any time.

No. 3 resolution was thou taken as follows:—As it has been found that the preseut 8.15 a.m. Woodville-Wel-lingtou train runs too late, we desire that this be altered to leave Woodville not later than 7 a.m., passing through Eketahuua about 9 a.m., or, better still, that the old time-table be reverted to.

Mr Kuminer moved that it be adopted.

Mr Henderson seconded the resolution.

Mr Buchanau stated he did not thiuk the old time-table could be quite reverted to, but it could with the exception that the train from Cross Creek ran twenty minutes earlier than at present.

The resolution was carried

The fourth proposal, that the Department be urged to allow the train at preseut leaving Masterton for south at's.3o p.m. to carry passengers, was then taken, Mr Kitchen moving its adoptiou. Mr Carey stated that if people did not catch the preseut train, which left Masterton at about 4 p.m., they had to wait till 10 p.m. Mr Buchanan pointed out ■that'this would be puttiug on an extra traiu.

Mr Summerell stated that it was agreed that they ought to have the 4.45 a.m. train from Wellington. This traiu arrived at Woodville at 2.13 p.m., aud returned, passiug through Masterton at 5.30 p.m. That would be in accordance with tho old time-table, and would not clash with that suggested. Mr Tait moved as au amendment that discussion be deferred till after clause 6 was. dealt with.

The amendment was lost

Mr Tait moved as an amendment that the Department be urged to allow the train to leave Woodville instead of Masterton at 5.30.

Mr Summerell suggested that. Mr Tait alter his amendment to the effect that in the event of the Department refusing to reinstate the 4.45 a.m. tram from Wellington to Woodville and back, it be then urged that tho p. 30 train from Masterton soutli be allowed to carry passengers. Some further discussion followed and Mr Tait agreed to withdraw his amendment.

The resolution (No. 4) was struck out.

No. 5 Resolution was then taken as follows :—That the old tf.i3o a.m. Mas-terton-Woodville train be re-instated in lieu of the present 7.45, which will give Wairarapa passengers a Wanganui aud New Plymouth connection, Mr Herbert moved its adoption and Mr Welch seconded.

Mr Hogg stated that they did not need to ask for this as it had a'ready been promised by the Minister.

Mr Carey: The Minister has promised a good many things.

Mr Hogg

Iv the House

Mr Buchanan again urged the suggestions as brought forward by him at an earlier stage of the meeting. He moved as an amendment that the 5.25 a.m. train from Cross Creek leave at 5.20 a.m., arrive in Master ton at 7 a.m., leave at 7.15, arriving in Palmerston North at 11.30 a.m.

Mr Wilkinson moved as a further amendment that they ask the Government to reinstate the 4.45 a.m. train from Wellington. Under the proposed arrangement the South Wairarapa was being entirely cut out. He was sorry that their member did not see that, aud that he should ask that the train start from Featherston at 6.30 a.m. It would not pay axle grease. The people of the South Wairarapa were asked to throw the whole of their weight in favour of getting to Paluierston and back in one day at their own expense.

The Chairman ruled Mr Wilkinson's amendment out of order.

Mr Buchanan, replying to Mr Wilkinson, stated that his proposal was not iv any way antagonistic to the 4.45 a.m. train from Wellington, aud if he had any idea that it would do so he would not dream of proposing his amendment.

Mr Wilkinson stated that Mr Buchanan must know that the request for this train would jeopardise the 4.45 train.

Mr Buchanan's amendment was carried by one vote.

Resolution No. 6, that it is considered advisable that a slightly later Cro3s Oreek-Woodville connection be made in lieu of the present 5.25 a.m., say leaving Cross Creek about 7 a.m., arriviug Woodville about 12.45, was considered next.

Mr Tat proposed as an amendment that instead they ask that the train leave Wellington at 4 45 a.m.

Mr Summerell seconded the amend inent.

Mr Tait stated chafe this was one of the most useful trains that they had evnr had in the Wairarapa.

Mr Dudson stated he had no objection to this train, bat he did not think they had a chance of gettiug it. They must be content with fewer trains from Wellington.

Mr Hogg objected and stated that this train ought to be reinstated as it was one that was justified by the importance of the district. It was the most important train of the lot.

Mr Buchanan agreed that this was the clearing train for the whole of the

Wairarapa. He thought it would be even better to have the 4.45 a.m. train from Wellington than that at present leaving at 10.15.

Mr Carey stated that there was another argument in favour of the 4.45 train, that was, that it was loaded the night before, while the 10.15 train was loaded the morning ou which it started, and they might well consider the question of having the former substituted for the latter.

Mr Webster agreed that this was the most important train for the Wairarapa and trusted that the deputation would do all in its power to have the train reinstated. He could not understand why that train should have been omitted from the proposals.

Mr Carey stated that they were all in favour of the reinstatement of this train.

Mr Tait's amendmeut was oarried unanimously. In regard to No. 7 proposal, that the present goods train leaving Masterton for the north at 4 p.m. be made a passenger train, Mr Kuramer suggested that it be struck out. Mr Moss moved iv that direction. Mr Hogg stated that the Department was always averse to converting a goods train into a passenger train, as it would be necessary then to have a fixed time-table for it, while they frequently carried explosives on these trains, which would be dangerous to passengers. Mr Carey suggested that, if they strike the proposal out, they urge upon the Minister the neoessity of providing passenger accommodation north in the afternoon, between the mid-day train aud the 6 p.m. train. Mr Henderson stated that it would not be wise to ask for too mauy trains.

The resolution was struck out,

Mr Summerell stated that he had been asked by the Pahiatua people to act for them, aud he had done so to the best of his ability. What they asked for was an early train from Masterton and a goods train which would be supplied by the 4.45 a.m. train from Wellington, aud that svas what the conference was endeavour iug to get

Mr Herbert moved that a representative be appointed to the deputation from each place interested.

Mr Tait thought that the resolutions passed should be priutad and submitted to the local bodies interested, and that they appoint their representative to the deputation. H? moved au amendment accordingly.

Mr Buchauau stated that the Minister would be leaving Wellington in trie course of a few weeks, aud Mr Tait agreed to withdraw his amendment.

Mr Kitchen suggested that they choose a deputation from those present.

Mr Loasby stated that if about three were sent to Wellington with the resolution passed, they would do more good than a big deputation. He moved in that direction, and that the three members for the districts be asked to act with tbern. It was not uecessary, he stated, to have more on the deputation, as whoever went was bound by the resolutions passed:

Mr Kitchen seconded Mr Loasby's amendment, which was carried, Mr Herbert agreeing to withdraw his resolution.

Mr Loasby moved that Messrs Ooradine, Carey and himself be appointed a deputation, aud the resolution was carried.

Mr Herbert moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Masterton Chamber of Commerce for the action they had taken in the matter, which was carried unanimously.

Mr Sumrnerell stated that tie would like to get the assistace of the Wellington merchants. He proposed that Mr'H. E. Tewsley, chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, be asked to attend. •

The resolution was carried