TE ARO RAILWAY STATION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 130, 3 June 1924, Page 8

TE ARO RAILWAY STATION

TO TBI EDITOR.

-Sir, —I would like to ask the Minister of Railways a few questions through you. Is it correct that he has let Te Aro Station to the Market Gardeners, Ltd., at a nominal retal of £3 per week? Assuming that the question is answered in the affirmative, has he acted constitutionally in letting the premises without calling for tenders for lease? Also, if he did let the premises in such a manner, ha 3 he made a practice of letting other railway properties in a- similiar way? If ifc is a common practice, then the reason why tlio railways are not paying probably is not far to seek, as it could only be assumed that there are many unbusinesslike transactions of a similiar nature.

[ In the public interest I might, state | that in my opinion had the letting of the Te ,-Aro Railway Station been thrown: : open for competition, the probability is | that at least £1500 per anv.mn could have been realised by the. Department, whereas this loss can Only be attributed as a subsidy to the farming . interest given for political purposes.—l am, etc., ! INQUIRER. ; 30th .May. ■ [The official reply to1 "Inquirer's" letter is as follows :—"The Te Aro Station premises were leased for defence purposes during the war. The Market Gardeners, Limited, occupy a portion of the premises not required by the Defence Department as tenants of "that Department. When the Defence Department's lease'expires in 1925, the premises will again come under the jurisdiction of the Railway Department and will be used for railway or 6i:ch other purposes as may then be determined. Should it ultimately be found that any portions of the premises aro not immediately required fgr railway purposes such portions - may possibly be put up for lease under terms and conditions to be fixed by the | Department in accordance with" the ! Government Railways Act.] .