West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Thursday 14 July 1892, page 3


DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER

A FURTHER STATION ON THE FREMANTLE.

PERTH RAILWAY.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. QuinJan, MLA., Molloy, M.L.A., 3. Leeder and *%utGhinson, introduced by Mr. S. H Parker, M.L.A., waited on the . Premier, Sir John Forrest, M.L.A., yesterday afternoon, in order 1 to urge upon the Government the necessity

of a railway platform being erected at the junction of Thomas-street and Subiaco-road, ,, on" the Fremantle-Perth railway. Mr.

Quinlan presented a petition signed by about 100 people in support of the request. Mr. Molloy. M.L. A., said there was great necessity for increased - accommodation for people outing to Perth, and the railway platform would give increased facilities for building purposes in this district. He hoped the Premier would do his utmost to further the request of the deputation. Mr. Hutchinson said he had been building in this locality recently, and had found great difficulties in this way. They had to pay heavy carriage on AU their timber, and in fact the timber yards I would not deliver their wooden account of the sand, and the same thing occurred with the storekeepers. If they had a platform at this point these difficulties would soon be overcome, and the railway traffic would very soon pay for the cost of the platform. The point at which it was suggested this platform should be erected was about 90 chains from the Central Station, and about 60 chains from Melbourne-road. The Premier, to reply, said he thought it would be desir

? able on occasions of this kind when they

came to ask a Minister anything with reference to any particular subject, that they should inform him beforehand exactly what they required, so that he would have an opportunity of consulting the advisers of the Government and be able to give a more definite reply. With the exception that he had heard from Mr. Quinlan something about a crossing he did not know the object of the deputation. Therefore, he had not had an opportunity of consulting the Engineer-in-Chief regarding the desirability of this platform, or as to whether there were any difficulties in the way. He would promise, however, to consult the Engineer-inChief on this matter. He was quite aware that the population was spreading in this direction, but whether the time had arrived for the erection of a station he was not quite certain. He had heard that it was intended

to move the Melbourne-road station in connection with the improvements going on at the Perth station, and it' occurred to him that the stations would be somewhat close together. Of course the more stations there were the more convenience it would fee to the public At the same time the railways must be carried on on commercial principles, and they could well understand that if they had too many stations between here and Fremantle, and the, trains stepped at everyone of them, the time occupied over the journey would be considerable. He was not aware at the present time of any pressing necessity for the station asked for, but when the population did increase in this locality it would be an absolute necessity. He proposed to consult the Engineer-in-Chief in the matter, and, if possible, the Government would be very glad to meet the wishes of the

deputation.

The deputation, after thanking the Premier, withdrew.

THE PERTH MARKET.

A deputation from the City Council, consisting of Crs. Quinlan, Molloy, Hurst, and the Town Clerk (Mr. W. E. Victor), waited on the Premier, yesterday afternoon, with regard to the proposed public market for Perth. The deputation was introduced by Cr. Quinlan, who explained that the object was to obtain a definite reply from the Government, with reference to the land offered by the Commissioner of Works for the purpose of a public market. Since hearing the terms on which the Government was prepared to offer the land on which the "Pound" had been situated, the committee had almost given up the idea of a market altogether. Yesterday evening, however, the committee met Mr. Hooley, who said he would be willing to allow a portion or a whole of the Perth Refrigerating Company's ground on certain terms, with the right of purchase. v The committee had informed Mr. Hooley that they would have to wait on the Government first, and obtain a definite reply as to whether the Government was prepared to give them any land, as this would be preferable to Mr. Hooley's offer.

Cr. HURST said that the pound site originally proposed had emanated from the Commissioner of Works, and the council was led to believe they could acquire the land for a serviceable term. The term of three or four years on which it was offered would not allow them to spend any money on building, for in order to bring it to a successful issue they must spend a considerable amount of money. This could not be done without a fixed tenure of the land. They still hoped, however, that the Government would see their way clear to deal with the proposed site where the old pound stood.

The PREMIER, in replying, said that the question of a market for Perth, which had been agitating the City Council, was thought of considerable importance by all those interested in the city of Perth. He had not taken any action with reference to the communication which passed between the Commissioner of Railways and the City Council, but he understood the Commissioner was not prepared to recommend that the site, which was offered in the first instance, should be given over for any length of time. It seemed to him that unless the City Council would obtain a permanent site they would only be prolonging the difficulty. ~ H they arranged for a temporary site, the difficulties existing now would be far greater when the lease expired than they were at the present time, therefore any arrangements made regarding the establishment of a market should be on land secured to the city for ever for this purpose. He was not in a position to say that the land formerly occupied by the pound should be given to the city permanently, although he was quite in accord with them that a market site was desirable, and should be secured at the very earliest moment. With reference to the action of the Government in resuming the pound land, apart from any question of right, he was sore the City Council was patriotic enough to see that the Government was doing this for the good of the colony and of the city of Perth. It had been for the object of making the railway system more perfect. Therefore, anything that might be said or thought with reference to the action of the Government in this matter, they might dismiss from their minds, as the Government was only doing its best as be said before, for the colony and the city. Now, coming back to the question as to what was the best to be done for a market, the site now mentioned did not seem to be a very good one; it seemed to be inconvenient to start with. They must, however, look about and ascertain whether they could obtain a suitable site, and he would be very glad to fall in with any suggestion, within the means of the Government, by which they could secure what was desired. His idea was that they should select a snjfable^site, and see whether it could not be purchased, and then ask the Government to help them. This would be much better than a temporary measure. It had been suggested that the Government might erect buildings for a market place near the old pound site with the view of, in the future, turning them into a railway shed. This might be done, but they would not obtain the object they had in view, as in future years they would have the same difficulty to face, which he had previously pointed out, of again finding a suitable site. If he could, however, personally do anything in the matter he would be very glad to do so. *

Cr. MOLLOY asked whether the deputation was to understand that if the Council were to select a site the Premier would make representations to the Government for its purchase. """ "

The PREMIER explained that to purchase the land would require a special vote. However, he was certainly in favour of the establishment of a market is Perth, and would be very anxious to do all he could to obtain what was so much required.

Cr. HURST asked whether the Government would be inclined to advance the Council the money necessary for the construction of a market, should they obtain a suitable site.

The PREMIER said, without answering the question off-hand, that he might favourably consider such a proposal.

Cr. MOLLOY, in thanking the Premier, referred to the remarks of the Premier with regard to the pound land. He was sure there was no serious disposition on the part of the Council to complain of the work being done by the Government. He was sure that it had not been intended to reflect on the Government in any way. ' They recognised the good intentions of the Government towards the city, especially with regard to the proposal to form a park on Mount Eliza.

The deputation then withdrew.