Submitters railroaded

The petition for a commuter train between Auckland and Hamilton has been stopped in its tracks with one Hamilton city councillor slamming the move as undemocratic.

The transport and industrial relations select committee told Parliament yesterday it had rejected hearing submitters of the petition calling for the establishment of a commuter train service signed by 11,500 people because local authorities had already ruled it out. But Hamilton City Council transport committee chair Dave Macpherson said it was "complete crap" and the city council had never decided against supporting the service.

"Hamilton City Council has continued to support it and has not pulled its support."

The city council has currently allocated funding towards the establishment costs and the multi-agency regional transport committee had the service specifically listed in its current regional land transport strategy.

Campaign for Better Transport spokesman Jon Reeves, who led the petition, was "extremely disappointed" at the response.

Labour MP Sue Moroney, who tabled the petition at Parliament, said there was no evidence to support the select committee's claims.

Ms Moroney claimed National MPs had used their majority vote on the committee to block the petition being heard.

"It's a slap in the face for those 11,500 people who signed that petition because they are not being given their day in Parliament for a fair hearing.

Select committees had previously heard smaller petitions including one signed by 8000 people to reopen the Onehunga branch railway line to passenger trains.

- © Fairfax NZ News