THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 981, 23 November 1910, Page 6

THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE,

LEASE OF RAILWAY LANDS. , Amendments affecting both the service and the general public are contained in the Government Railways Amendment Bill (No. 2), circulated last night. It is provided' that the Minister may grant to members of the service leave ot absence on _ pay for such periods as are specified in the regulations made li'om time to time. In tho principal Act i P rovl[ led that the leave of a use nee snail b& not less than ono week per annum. • ■ • ■The provision 'in the principal Act that tho Governor may make regulations providing that, no member of tho service •?i.' i£ ,M e -,' is ™ a . rr icd or;is a widower with a child or children, receive a salary ot \less .than <£130 per annum, is amended to make it apply only if the child is under the ago of fourteen, and is dependent on and residing . with or supported by him. : . Tho Governor-in-Gouncil may fix tho amount to bo paid to an officer at any sum. within the mazimuin and minimum limits of the, class or grado .in which such officer is placed, and such amountshall be the . salary payable without annual increment.

Tho Minister. may let on lease, for a period not exceeding 21 years, any land not required for railway purposes. In every ease where the value of tho land exceeds an annual rental of .£2O, tho letting shall be by public tender or by Public auction. The lease may contain provision for the. removal by the lessee of improvements mad,© by- iiiui, or for protecting, the lessee's interest in such improvements. .The Minister may have such improvements, valued at the time °f the expiry "of the lease, and'fix the value thereof; and, if he considers such improvements are convenient and suitable to the land in question, may specify m any new lease that the incoming lessee, shall take over such improvements, and shall pay to the outgoing lessee tile value as fixed by tho Minister. No lessee shall be entitled to compensation for improvements (from the Minister) on the expiry of any renewed lease. In every case where compensation is payable by the, Minister, tho amount, if not mutually agreed upon, shall' be decided by a Compensation, Court. - Instead of paying direct to the : lessee the amount of such compensation;; the Miuister mav cause the lease for a further period o'f 21 years to bo put up to auction, subject to the payment of such compensation by the. purchaser. If the outgoing lessee- is tho purchaser. the new "lease shall bo deemed to be a" renewed Every lease grafted*' under Section '12 of the Public AVork's Act, 1894, before the coming into operation of the Government Railways Act. 1900, and containing any. such provisions for ' compensation or renewal, is declared to have been;validly granted; and the provisions of this section shall apply. No person shall have any right to any easement, or to construct or carry out any work upon, over, or under any railway,-with-out _ having first obtained from the Minister a grant of such right. Any easement granted to a public body upon, over, or under any --railway' at a public-level-crossing shall bo at a peppercorn rental.

. The provision relating to false notes, waybills, etc., is altered to read:—Every person who makes a false statement is liable to a fine not exceeding £50 If in any such document there is any understatement or any misdescription, which might lead to goods being. charged for at.less than the proper rate, tliencharges at a special rafe, not- exceeding double the ordinary rate on .the whole consignment, shall bo payable.