RAILWAY STATION SITE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160735, 23 August 1920, Page 4

RAILWAY STATION SITE.

To the Editor. Sir, —As a comparatively old citizen of "Wanganui I have naturally followed this somewhat desultory discussion with some interest. It seems to me a pity that a matter of such vital importance to Wanganui should apparently cause so little stir. The matter in a nutshjdl is: (1) the Harbour Board must have ‘increased room. (2) the railway r-tafion must be moved to allow of this. Loth the above are recognised necessities. Now, why should there be any unnecessary delay in giving the Harbour Board the relief it so urgently requires? An enlightened>and educated community is not going to allow the Harbour Board to ho deprived of its absolutely necessary quite apart from its moral, rights. No Parliament would allow this. Wc must presume that in this 30th century aud after the recent war that might is not right, and that at any rate the principle that the common weal is to be upheld is paramount. Parliament governs the country, therefore in its own interest and for its general good, and for this purpose the general good of the towns making the country is essential. ,It follows then the Government will not allow the unmoral filching of the Harbour Board rights by a Railway Department which is owned by the Dominion and run in the interests of the Dominion. Therefore! it comes down to the finding of a railway station site to give the necessary relief. Thus it follows that it is now. and urgently, the duty of this town and its adjoining administrative bodies, to find out the most suitable site for the location of a railwav station which will meet the requirements of the future. The protest mooting most emphatically proved That the taking of ths Racecourse Reserve was not the solution. If it were the most suitable ■place, the argument that it is an im* portant lung and the only large, reserve the citizens haw would not stand, for as some of the upholders of the Race course she have pointed out other hnisu could be acquired (But would they?) It is well-known that more suitable sites could be acquired, and at less cost, although‘cost-should not enter into thia matter at all. The only thing that ir.alters is to do the right thing now ii! the future best interests. It is certain, therefore, that Castlecliff-Gonvillc is not ti ho separated from Wanganui bv an impenetrable barrier. "it .'s not a fair thing to Mr Massey to worry him with rival schemes. It is our duty now as citizens to say to Parliament" a certain definite sit© is the site for the railway station, and if it is decided on in the right way UParlia ment will immediately accept it, but wo must, take notice of his warning to the big Wairarapa deputation about the Eimutaka line, and not fight but go to bim with onr minds mad© up. Now, is it an impossible thing for the various administrative bodies interested to. get together, get any expert advice necessary. and listen to the arguments of the Ratepayers’ Association, which it is to be hoped will soon b© formed; sum up the situation, md go to Par Lament with a united, conclusion come to in tho best interest of the. .country? If one looks at a map of Wanganui and the immediate surroundings, Tawhero and that vacant Borough land the other side of London Street seems to be the most central position. Suppoaa for argument s sake tin-' united bodies come to tho conclusion this was the elect site, this land could be cheaply aud quickly acquired, and the shunting yards and station placed there. That is all tliat is absolutely necessary in tho meantime to give the urgenu relief required by the Harbour Board, and this-.also would fit in with the future outlook when Wanganui’s citizens become more enlightened and object to travelling via 1 Fordoll and Okoia to Wanganui, but want to be delivered lhcre S by the shortest route, i.e., via No. 1 Line and a tunnel under the river at Putiki. would also fit in .with the claims which the rapidly growing important towns north of Wanganui, Patea, Hawcra, Eltham, Stratford, will shortly make to have the route taken from Wanganui to Kai Iwi di ect. One can then see the station on the best site m the interests of Wanganui and adjacent districts as a ''hole; V; anganui' on the main line, the distance' between important shortened, and the railway doing twice the business at half the cost of to-day. Is this too much of a vision, or are wo going to rise to the occasion? I am, etc ” F.E.S.F.