SPARKS FROM RAILWAY ENGINES

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 561, 16 July 1909, Page 5

SPARKS FROM RAILWAY ENGINES

, ' * QUESTION OF COMPENSATION. , v , (By Telegraph.-Prcss Association.) 1 Auckland, July 15. ' I At a'oonferonco of delegates from tho local . , bodies 'in Manukau County this afternoon, tho proposal was brought forward "that tho Government should compensate owners where fonces are destroyed by firo caused by spark* v from railway engines.' , Mr. Morgan said that there was,need for . some law which would place tho Railway Dopartment in the same position as tho private individual. If a spark from a traction, ongirio sot Gro to a crop they could, take action, but in the case of tho Railway Departmeut they could got np satisfaction. Mr. Smith seconded tho motion. > Mr, W. F. Masscy, M.P., said the motion \ did not go far enough. Where sparks from a railway engine set firo to grass and crops, as well as fences, the Government should bo just as responsible as private railway oom« panies and the owners of traction-engines. It was only a democratic principle that ho ■ was voicing, and he "thought that where damago was dono by fires starting from sparks from railway engines' those affected should bo able to take action for compensation against tho Department. Tho motion was altered to read: iiiat tflfl Government bo asked to pay compensation for damago to crops, fences, or other property destroyed or damaged by firo from passing engines." ' Tho motion Has carried, and it was-also ilecidod to ask that tho Railway Department should fence all railway lines: i ,