HUTT PARK RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 559, 14 July 1909, Page 9

HUTT PARK RAILWAY.

REQUEST FOR ITS ACQUISITION. GOVERNMENT AVERSE TO THE 1 PROPOSAL. EON. J. A. MILLtR ON RAILWAY POLICY. An influential deputation, including Messrs E P. Bunny, MayoT of Lowei Hntt, Mr J. W. MTJwan, Mayer ef Petone, Mr. R. Stevens, ohairman ef the Hntt River Board, Mr W C. Cuff, secretary te th* beard, Mr. D. Nathan, representing the interest of the proposed Manairntu and, Wairarapa Co-operative FaimerV Freezing Company, and Mr Walsh, ehkirman ef the Hntt County Council, J naitou upon th» Hon. J A Millar (Minister fer Railways) to urge the desirability of tho Government acquiring tke Hutt Park railway. Why the Line Shiuld ba Acquired. Mr. Wilferd, M.P., m introducing the deputation, said that its members nere firmly of opinion that it would be an advantage both to 'the Gevernment and the district if the line irere State-oinwd Ho then reviewed the position an between the Hutt Railway Company and the Gear Meat Cempauj in i rogird to the line If the Government took over tho line, it would be nble to say to the Gear Company that the Railway Company would pay it the compensation to which it wai entitled Ho had been informal by the Hutt Park Company that it would sell its interest m the line to tho Government for and altogether tho sum which the lino would cost the Government would bo only a little over .£3OOO. If tho Government secured tho Imo, it would enable it to open Tip us properties in the distriot Another matter was tno question of the construction of a railway bridge over tho river for the purpov of bringing into touch that piece of land owned by tho Government. It was in that locality that the proposed freezing company considered that they could got an ideal site for their works Another big projeet which was under discussion was the proposal te deepen the mouth of the Hntt River, which was net a usionarj scheme. Shortlj tho Wellington Harbour Board would receive a deputation from the Hntt River Board, so that concerted action might be token in connection with the proposal. If tho Potono Boreugh had had the power it would havo acquired the line some time ago The Government had, however, stated that it was against its policy to allow railways" to be owned by ethers than itself. Remarks by Other Speakers. Mr. M*Ewan remaiked that it was thought that the Government would itself acquire the line when it to give Petone Borough authority to purchase it. At that time there were negotiations with the Harbour Board for the erection of a railway wharf The board, however, stipulated that in OTdor to allow of such a strootnTS there must bo connection with the Government railway service As a result of Mr. Hull-Jones's refusal to allow the borough to seenre the Ime, a wharf suitable enly for cart traffic was erected. There wonld, i» thought, be great developments in the near future in that portion of the valley which fronted the sea. The; Hatt River Board's •eheme had the entire sympathy .of his council, vhich wonld also like to mo freezing works erected across the river. It was hoped that ;li6 Ime ireuld be aeqmred and extended at any rate a far as Gear Island Mr. Stevras emphasißfd tke necessity of the werk from the point of view of the Hutt River Board, which had, he said, 110 acres of land very suitable as sites for works of various kinds. That morning he had learned that that land was preferable to the land across the river for freermg worts Without railway access the l«nd was practically valueless, and could only be need for grazing, purposes. The proposed freenajf werks wanted 10 acres, and wetker firm 8 acres. Altkengh the capabilities of the \ alley were very great, its population was very limited ' Mr. Cuff mentioned that Mr. Laing-Meason's estimate of the cost of putting the line in order included an extension of the lino for 67 chains. I Mr. Millar But I wonld have to send out my> officers to get a report also Mr. Bunny stated that the council had a large area which would bo served by the line With the exception of half an acre that was used for manufacturing purposes, the balance of tho block of 110 acres which had b»en menboned was occupied by only one tenant .»■, p Nathan" said" that, compared with Chnstohurch and Dunedin, Wolhngton was at 4 great disadvantage for laild as'sites for manufacturing works.' •

;[ Vi'^K-i jßeply'^by;'|Jie: : ;m inlsier.- '■ ■>. ; -/ J ivj-: : r:-; know, what was .in the : mindi of-Mr.' Hall-Jones ;wli«n^ebj*flted'to Conncil'/har-' acquire ::it.«rPersonally,- to ,'a -tram-way-hot 'a' railiray-which ; ou-ht Jβ; be, owned '■ andvcon,oueted,,by '.the local bodies iintereeted. The •>,^t-°S e "i' ?hti $° ¥ owsr '- :to PiMhase' it out' of tne.Eailways Fund; the money would have -Jo, comeiout.ofthe: Eublib/Works Fund.'- If -.acquired: the,: railway there would immediately be: a, demand for a bridge .over the HuttEiver, land- for ; the line to he -.earned .to.. pay's Bay, or;Lowry Bay at any : rate. ■ Frdm 'the .railway point of view at the - present jtime there' was ; nothing to' justify ■' the GoyernmentVin' expending £J(KX) :x>t £Sm' oh the; line,' though it /might -be that.r if. certain industries;were.started, there would, be euf.floientisindupamerit'■[ for- the Government to alter- its: deoision;;,?:At.,present- it took the Government all its time to' complete the lines :that had .already been: authorised. Upon th 6 Hutt, line -.tho people had, all- would , agree, a fairly ■, good ser.vico,', .which he hoped to be able, to-.improve. He- "thought that' the local bodies interested .snqnld acquire the line in ouestion and run a, motor rail .service. They secure .two ste'amY motor or> gasolene:carnages at a cost "of maybe Mm.- Such aser'rice could rb»•• run economically, and stopp'ingplaees could be' arranged : as f requent'. as neMs-■.Sary.:vEv«n;'if-;the Government: Were favourably, inclined to acquire the line; it weiild net 'do so until the Eailway Company had extinguished its .agreement with the Gear Company. -/.The Government wouldnot purchase the Eailway ■.Company's: interest: for '.£IOOO, 'and■ then , to negotiate : ; aWthv'tho G«af ; Company, which..--mightdecline tp.accept any .payment ;and; still demand running rights over, the railway for the next six teah,years. ; H«>■ wished'to make 'it plain! thati.the Government was' not going, to allow, anyone-to hold running, rights on Government lines.; Hi the local bodies acquired '.the line tho would have to take place .at .the; junction; Later on the .development:: of Gear: Island, rind other lands nrthe valloy might, l justify the; Government in taking Over'ihe line? and working-it-as ara ji. way/..He could" not, however;/hbld'out: any hope at;present as to :when that might be done. The Governubnt, must facilities'. .where at present: there: were none 'before giving, increased facilities where facilitiesi/were provided. That.was, in his opinion, the only way to develop the-country." Ho noticed that -Mr. : Laing Mea6ori!s;.estimate : :pf the -.cost ". of putting the line in .ordei , . was -just:tinder iSIpOO. - : His, officois':had'informed ; him that tho line would almost .have"to be.relaid 'before it.could, be brought np to the standard-of tho Government railways. ' Even ■if the:- lihe . were .--offered : for with .the; Gear. .Company's rights extinguished he did not: think theVGpvernm«lit would-entertain the proposal, as it would cake JGSOCO'to put;the lino.jn.satisfactory order.Mr.' M'Ewan: [According: to : the .agreementonly the Government could acquire the line. Mr. i'Millar: -If fthe'Government^took over the_ line ; ;on the understanding; that,the local bodies'tiuriihased: it-from .them iif would, be moro -'Advantageous than to leave the Jino idle as at present." J--:-.:--..;-;- ■/;.'-::■''':''•■'■. ■■';■■'■ '■;- '■: :■.'..■■, : .-. Mr. : M/Ewari: Would the Government, afford the HuttV'Tramwayi.Board facilities-, to ,'purchase 1 : the line? i ■;.. ,;',/:.> j •:;.;.' ■■•'...■.■■.■ .':-.-. Mr. Millar: I could-not pledge the Cabinet, but personally, I would,support such 'a proposal.