The Premier

Hastings Standard, Volume IX, Issue 5148, 15 March 1906, Page 2

The Premier

(Per Press Association). Wellington, March Id Speaking at a banquet to Mr Field, M.H.R., last night, at Levin, the Premier referred to the purchase of the Manawatu Railway Co.'ti lino by the Government. He said that under the original agreement, if (be Government took over the line within I'l years it lui<i to pay 10 per cent, on the cost. Taking tile latter at half a million it meant £.">O.UOU per The line Wrtft opened the entire length in I SS(S, so thai in November next year the 'JI years would expire, and affen that no per eenhige would barn be paid. The Government bud to give twelve months' notice before purchasing, and they bad up til! November to give such notice, and as the term was so nearly expired the (fovernment could not see if* way to make a present of JL'M HK f to the company. Strenuous efforts, lie said, were'heing made to complete the Main Trunk Line, and tiepresent Parliament would have to deal with taking over tie Manawatu Referring to the Scenery reservation Commission the Premier considers (here has been too much delay in dealing with some reserve.-, which should have been secured, with the result that the Government had been involved in additional cost. The Commission hud cost th>, eoluny in fees, (ravelling expenses, *u\, and ic was about time to eot the painter and band the powers of the Commission over to the oHieefs of the band l>epartjijeift. The Commissioners were still cavilling, and lie supposed they thought, they were going on for ever, but they had made a mistake. The, Commission comprised good men, but there had bteu too icucii UtLr/*