RAILWAY REQUIREMENTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15863, 7 July 1919, Page 6

RAILWAY REQUIREMENTS.

IT WANGANUI EAST. PUBLIC PROTEST AT DELAY. ' DEPUTATION TO INTERVIEW MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS. Just prior to the war there was a strong agitation for better railway facilities at Wanganui East. It was understood at the time that the Departs inent ’was prepared to do something towards the carrying out of the requests of those who had been interesting themselves in the matter, but the war intervened. The war was over, and the Department was asked to carry out certain promises it was alleged to have made. Its reply, however, was that nothing could be done until the site for the main Wanganui station was settled. . 1 _ On Saturday night a public meeting was held at Wanganui East to discuss railway The Mayor presided. Among those present were Crs. Sharpe, Green, Thompson, and Luxford. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. Spriggens, Liffiton, and Burnett.The Mayor said that Wanganui East had been badly served by the Railway Department for many years, especially in regard 'to stock-loading facilities. The shed which now did service as a station was erected 30 years ago. There was now a population of something like 2000 people living in the suburb, who required better railway facilities. The tram service made the suburban station a convenient one for passengers to and from Wanganui to use. There was no connection between the unsettled question of the site of the railway station at Wanganui and the peed for improved accommodation at Wanganui East. The latter was an important stock centre, and it was obvious that it should have up-to-date stock shipping facilities.- The present railway accommodation was a disgrace, and was absolutely behind 'the times. He moved “That this meeting calls upon the Minister for Railways to carry out promises made to improve the railway facilities at Wanganui East.” The motion was seconded by Mr Anderson.

Mr F. H. Allen supported'the motion. He said that for years and years the residents in the district had done their utmost to have improvements effected to the station, yet nothing had been done. He declared that there was in existence a telegram from the present Minister for Railways in which he stated he had given instructions for an up-to-date Station to be erected at Eastown. Since then the Department had been putting off the work. He thought that a deputation should be appointed to proceed to Wellington to force this matter.

Cr. W. M. Luxford also supported tie motion. He said that the Department recognised the progress of the district five years ago, when it purchased land for a new station. He understood that the Department even had plans for it drawn.

Cr. R. W. Green, in supporting the proposal, said a new station would serve a greater district than Wanganui East. The accommodation at tie terminus, was too cramped 'to allow of further extensions. He had heard it said that the Department had not sufficient land at Wanganui East. If it kept on with taiho policy, the time would come when all tie now available ground was covered with buildings, for the district was and" would continue to be a progressive one. The time had come when the present “dog box” should give place to an up-to-date station. The new station would relieve the congestion of traffic at the terminus. It was time to make the Government consider Hie necessary claims of the district, and for the people to show it that they were not going to stand, any further dilly dallying. The motion was unanimously carried. On the motion of Mr Anderson, the Mayor was instructed to arrange for a deputation to wait upon the Minister as soon as possible.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY. A rather novel suggestion was brought forward by Cr. W. M. Luxford. He referred to the many dangerous crossings on the railway line between Eastown and Wanganui, and declared that it was high time the railway line was cut out from the town. His scheme was that the Borough Council should improve its tramway facilities, so that it would be able to cope with all passenger traffic for Wanganui at Eastown. also light goods traffic. A goods line would be required, also the present Wanganui East track duplicated. He did not thing there were any engineering difficulties in its way. He moved-: “That in the opinion of this meeting the, Borough Council should improve its tramway service to Wanganui East, in order to encourage railway passenger and freight traffic to use the tram service to Wanganui.” Cr. A. Thompson seconded the motion pro forma. He said there were many difficulties in the way. He thought, however, the Council should provide trailers to carry passengers’ luggage and perambulators. The Mayor _ agreed that the Council should do all it could to encourage railway passengers to use the Wanganui East tram service. _ He hoped that before lofig the Council would place tramway loan proposals before the ratepayers which would provide for a much better service. The motion was earned. In reply to a question, the Mayor said that the request for improved railway station facilities would not be prejudiced by the petition asking for the removal of -the saleyards from Wanganui East; * b