MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13378, 20 March 1909, Page 9

MANAWATU RAILWAY.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 19. Tho losses caused to local bodies through the! Manawatu Railway Company selling out to tho Government wero tho subject of a deputation to the Hon. J. A. Miliar, Minister of Railways, this afternoon. Tho Horowhonua, Hutt, and Makara County Councils, Levin Borough Council, and Otaki ltoad Board were represented.

Mr Field, M.P., said the Government of the day, which gave a vast area of lanel to the Company, did not protect local bodies in respect to roads. Thc Company, therefore, cut up its land, without providing roads. Tho Manawatu Company had paid rates, but nothing like the amount which should have been obtained. The Horowhenua County Council had raised over sixty special loans at various times; but the Manawatu Company's ' land, though reckoned us part of tho contributing art"a, was now being dropped out, throwing a further burden upon the remaining ratepayers. Some method of "tapering off" in respect to special rates hael been promisee].

Mr J. McLeary, chairman of the Horowhenua Council, said the Company was paying £600 in rates, which woulel now be lost. 3lr Galloway said tlie Hutt County Council was losing £250 per annum. Mr S. Bryant said the Makara County's annual kiss was £1-57. Mr Millar said he was not aware of any promise" of a tapering off policy. He would be candiel. Jhe Government would not pay local rates. Regarding the question of special rates, thero was some fore, in the deputation's contention. He was not sure, as the Actstood, whether the Government might not be forced to pay any special rate payable by the Company prior to the State purchase. He was securing the Crown law officers' view on this point. If their atlvico was to that eflect, the Government had no desire to get out of any legal liability. In all probability the Government would pay any special rate which the Company had paid. It was true local bodies had lost their "thirds"; but he questioned whether these were as valuable as the increased revenue resulting from the railway causing an enhanced val**£ of land.