N.Z. RAILWAYS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14234, 6 March 1914, Page 6

N.Z. RAILWAYS.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. . (Per United Press Association.) LEVIN, March 5. The Minister of Railways visited Levin to-day and received deputations from the Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce regarding railway facilities, the acquisition from the Government of the I'oxton wharf and local matters. In reply, he intimated that the new General Manager of Railways was considering the whole question of expediting the train services on the Main Trunk Line including the question of having the Auckland express stop at Levin. Dangerous. level crossings on the railways were also being investigated. The Minister was not favourably impressed by the ' suggestion to have gates erected. The j general public was averse from this, he • thought, but he believed it would be practicable in some cases to have, electric alarm bells operated at such crossings from railway stations. Respecting the Foxton wharf, he thought acquisition could be secured if a spirit of reasonableness were shown. The Railway Department already had fixed its selling price. He did not think, the Department could do as suggested by the deputation and accept time payments in lieu of cash. Legislation to permit that would be essential first. He suggested with a view to expediting the acquirement of the whai’f from the Government that the harbour board should first take a poll of the ratepayers, yea or ,nay. Failing this there would be the probability of objections being raised when the Bill was before Parliament and a proviso for ■ the taking of such a poll added to the Bill. The, Minister left Levin for Wellington to-night by the express. During the four weeks ending .January .'ibst the railway revenues' totalled £352,219 —North island ,£198,947, South Island £153,271. For the corresponding period last year North Island receipts totalled £180,115, Spilth Island £148,255. Expenditure last January was £324,555 (123,985 North, and £98,770 South, as against £122,968 and £98,551 respectively last year). The percentage of expenditure to revenue was 73.27 as against (58.44 a year ago.