HUTT ROAD BILL

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9156, 23 September 1915, Page 7

HUTT ROAD BILL

THIRD READING PASSED. The Hon. W. H. Herries moved the third reading of the Hutt Eoad Bill. Mr B- A. Wright {Wellington Suburbs) reviewed the objections which had- been raised by the opponents of the bill on behalf of the suburban local bodies. He said that the locaj. bodies had been misled and overcharged. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) considered that a sufficient concession had been made to the local bodies concerned. Indeed they had been treated with great generosity. The rates paid by the local counties were far less than those raised by other counties. It was to be hoped that this would be tb> last of a very troublesome matter. I>r A. K. Newman (Wellington East) contended that the original rata of interest should have been adhered to>. Cognisance should have been taken of the fact that the road was being badly cut up by the special traffic to the Trenthani camp- , Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) thought th» time would come . when it would be discovered that the Government had done an unfair thing in bringing forward the bill in its present form. It was never anticipated that the local bodies would be called upon to contribute so much. He blamed everyone concerned in the matter for not having a better understanding with the Railway Department as to how the e^pendi-

ture -was to be apportioned. The local bodies had been placed in a most unfortunate position and were entitled to, sympathetic treatment. "Sir Joseph Ward was surprised at the prolonged reiteration of threadbare arguments in reference to a matter which ought to have been settled long since. What would be thought of other localities if they came forward and asked for the same consideration as thoso concerned in tho construction of this road? Tho suggestion that they had been misled by some remark of the lato Colonel Pitt in the other Chamber was absurd nonsense. Admirable service had been lent the local bodies by the Government and the Kail way Department, and they should only be too glad to pay their fair quota towards tho great improvements that had been carried out- It was ridiculous to suggest that tho work was badly and expensively undertaken. It was ona of tho finest pieces of work executed in the Dominion. The Hon. W. 11. Berries said he regretted thut tho member for Hutt was not present, but it was impossible to further postpone the bill. _ Mr G. Witty (Riccarton): "He is out Mr Merries explained that the bill had been postponed on his motion, both on Monday and Tuesday, but the Prime Minister now desired the order-paper to ba cleared for the consideration of tho taxation bills. The local bodies ought to be very glad indeed to have such a bill, for, very considerable concessions had been given by tho Government. The total cost of the road bad been .£105,330, and many charges which might fairly have been made against it, such as the breastwork afforded by the railway, had_ been excluded. The deduction of £40,000 from the .£IOO,OOO was) a most generous one, and' the local bodies ought to be very gratoful instead of railhng. against the Government- If any portions of tru. olu road could be sold the .local bodies would get the benefit, . The motion was then agreed to, and the bill was