A WAIKATO RAILWAY

EQUALITY OP TREATMENT URGED. At a meeting of the directors of the Waipa Railway and # Collieries, Ltd., held in Wellington on Thursday, il is understood that reference was made to what is known as the Pukemiro Line, to join the Main Trunk at Huntly by the new Waikato Bridge. It has been suggested that the Pukemiro Co. is receiving consideration from the Government which was not given to the Waipa Co., both^ undertakings operating in the same territory. It appears that the Waipa Co., which has a capital of £80,000, of which 1500 fully paid-up shares were allotted to vendors (practically owners of the freeholds), gave no shares away to any one. This company filed its prospectus on 12th January, 1910. On 10th January, 1911, t the prospectus of the Puketmro Collieries Co. was filed— a year later than the Waipa Co. The latter had to build a bridge over the Waipa River for its railway, to construct its | own line of 6£ miles, to put in and pay for a siding at Ngaruawahia, and to bear half-cost of land purchased by th« Railway Department required for alteration of the station site. The Pukemiro Co., on the other hand, had an agreement with the Raglan County Council to construct a railway to its mines ; but the Government of the day appear to have taken the matter up, and the new Waikato Bridge at and three miles of milway were agreed to be constructed by the late Government, and ultimately a further section of 4£ miles was agreed to, the total length being 7£ miles, and known as the HuntlyAwaroa Lin©'. But it is to be constructed so as to run right into the Pukemiro Collieries Co.'s coal deposits. It is contended that the Pukemiro Co. has had done for it by the Government what the Waipa Co. has had to pay dearly for, not counting the long delay caused by various formalities before the' work at Ngaruawhahia could be begun. The Waipa Co. has over 650 shareholders, many of whom are settlers in the district, while the Pukemiro Co., on the last filed list, has 184 shareholders, with a subscribed capital of £33,933. The latter company, by the fact that the Government is • constructing the railway for it, requires much less capital than the Waipa Co. It is submitted that as both companies have been promoted by private enterprise, and are cimilarly situated, both working the bamo coal scams, the same terms should be accorded to each. The whole matter may presently be brought before, P*rliaai&t. ,