WHARF SUED CONGESTION

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160726, 12 August 1920, Page 7

WHARF SUED CONGESTION

REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF. The chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr A. G. Bignell, returned from Wellington yesterday afternon. Discussing the recent deputation from the Harbour Board to the railway authorities, asking for immediate relief from congestion on the wharf, Mr Bignell said that both Mr McVilley, the General Manager, and Mr Massey, the Minister-in-Charge, seemed impressed and realised that something must be done, and that the present condition could not go on much longer. He had pointed out to the railway officials that no matter what site was fixed for the new station it would be a considerable time before relief was given to the Harbour Board on the foreshore, and this was the trouble which required immediate remedy. The General Manager stated that it was not possible to remove any of the roads at the station, nor was it possible to do the marshalling at Aramoho except after considerable expense had been undertaken to make alterations, which would not be required after the new station had been completed. Still, he (Mr Bignell) was hopeful that the Manager and the Minister, who were to confer on this matter again at the end of this week, would be able to do something to assist, the Board. At present the Board had received nothing definite, and was just in the position as before. Until a site favourable to the Railway Department for the new station, which mnst ultimately come, has been decided upon nothing could he done in the way of providing the Board with permanent relief. If the Department utilised all the available ground on its present site, it would have room enough for the nest 15 years. Decision as to the locality of the now station must be. arrived at quickly, for the Department required a long time to complete its plans. Tlovortiujr back to the question of immediate relief. Mr Bignell said that the Board had asked the railway authorities if it was possible to build a smaller shed, equal in capacity to the present one further down the river, and to give adequate road access. If this was not possible, the only alternative he could see was for the Board to commerce as quickly as possible with the building of a new wharf and sheds on its own property further down the river.