LAND FOR RAILWAY DEVIATION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 20

LAND FOR RAILWAY DEVIATION

COMPENSATION QUESTION (PBBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 22. The Full Court has under consideration a question arising out of the taking of certain land for the purposes of the Tawa Flat deviation of the Welli ngton-Palmerston North railway. Claimants. Tawa Central, Ltd., and Ella Hoare. both claimed before the Compensation Court in April and May for compensation in respect ol land taken and also for injurious affection in respect of other lands belonging to them. The construction of the deviation was commenced in 1927, so that by September, 1931 (the date at which the value of the land taken had to be ascertained), the land in the vicinity of the deviation had greatly increased in value. Respondent, the Minister for Public Works, contended that in fixing compensation. no account should be taken of such increase. The president of the Compensation Court tentatively ruled in favour of claimants, and stated a case for the Supreme Court, which is now asked to decide whether any such value accrued to the said lands as at September, 1931. is to be included or excluded for the purpose of assessing compensation. If the president's ruling is upheld, Tawa Central, Ltd., will be entitled to £2IOO, plus interest, and Hoare to £4OO, plus interest. Should the court decide in favour of respondent, the compensation will be reduced to £865 and interest and £175 and interest respectively. The court reserved its decision.