TAUPO TOTARA COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 213, 5 September 1912, Page 2

TAUPO TOTARA COMPANY.

EXTENSION OF CONCESSIONS. (By TelesrrapJi.-~Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The adjourned hearing of the Taupo Totara Company's petition for the right to extend its existing railway and certain other concessions was resumed today before a special committee, of which Mr G. J. Anderson was chairman A supporting petition from the settlers of East Taupo, and others from the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Trades Council, and certain natives, ■were received. Mr C. B. Collins (Trades Council) submitted objections that the first paragraph of the petition could only be given effect by a private bill, and the requirements of the House in this direction had not been fulfilled. The petitioners were not justified in coming to Parliament in the first resort, and the petition was not one for committee because it contained matters of policy. The objections were, overruled. Sir John Findlay (for the Taupo Co.), outlining the petitioner's ease, said the present petition differed materially from that submitted last year in one respect. He emphasised that the company was purely a New Zealand concern, and was nut, coming to Parliament as a bankrupt or insolvent concern. At the present time the company employed 250 men, and since it started had paid £352,000 in wages. The ipetrtion proceeds that in twelve years the company paid £70,000 on railway freights, and in taxes, plant, machinery, etc., £223,000. The company's present railway could be converted into i a track suitable 'for heavy traffic. The' company did not come before the com- ; mittee as patriots, but as business men with a business proposition. If the Com- , mittee could not adopt it as such, then it -was its duty to reject it. There were : I two -million acres in the district lying practically idle. The company had no hidden reason for getting- rid of the. line, tut -wanted to do so because it was a dwindling asset. The company had its timber areas to work for the' n«xt 15 or 20 years. The railway, -maintained as at present, would be as good then, but there would be no timber. It denied the rumour that the company hid a s<vre>t, alliance with the Tongariro Timber Coir.-' pany in order to secure a monopoly. In ' point of fact, in co-nvpttition, exr-e.pt, over the two Taupo hotels, the company had no option over -hot-els and tourists', I reeorte, and would be glad to hand the I two over to the Government. '; The company was prepared to hand, over its 65 miles of line, equipped with . rolling stock, for £130,000. The mm- : pany also guarantee +0 pay -for freights over the line averaging £11,000 pcr 1 annum. I