VARIOUS OT AGO MATTERS.
QUESTIONS ASKED IN PARLIA-
MENT
(Fbok Our Own Cokbespokdent.) WELLINGTON, November 10.
- In reply to a question by Mr Anderson (Mataura) ac to anomalies in the railway tariff between Dunetlin and Gore, the' Minister of Railways to-day gave the following reply :—: — _ "The train rates existing between Dunedin and Gore are the. classified rates, and the goods conveyed between the points specified are subject to the generalprovisions of the regulations. Mining, machinery is charged at Cla«J "D " ; the rate for the 100 miles separating Dnnedin from Gore is £1 6s 6d per ton. Goods consigned to dealers and foundrymen in Gore and subeequently resold by them and-consigned to* Waikaia are charged at the classihed rates from Gore, to Wa-ikaia according to the class to which the goods belong. The sum of the two rates taken separately is. greater than the direct rate from Dunedin to Wa-ikaia, but extra services have to ibe performed in connection with thib. The iron foundries at Gore are not> prejudicially affected by reason, of , any differentiation in railway rates. The increase in the charge from Gore arises solely from the fact that the goods are • twice .dealt with, and the initial rates for railway carriage have to be paid in each instances. The general practice is for the department to charge as dredging plant, machinery, and such articles as are used in connection with the dredging industry,' but in order to obtain the benefit of the dredging" rate such materials have necessarily to be consigned direct to the dredge. Many articles used in the manufacture arid working of a dredge can also be used in a number of other way& apart altogether from dredging, and the rate for dredging material is not applied to such goodß. There must be definite proof of the ultimate usf of all articles on which a concession in rate is made on behalf of the local industry. The contention of the foundrymen at Gore has hitherto been that all goods which, can, by any btretch of imagination be used in connection with' the dredging industry should be charged at the rate for dredging plant when consigned to the foundries. This the department has not^ been able to agree' to, and I am unable to agree to any. alteration being made in the rates between Dunedin and Gore." Mr Anderson asked the Minister or Public Works when the Government intended to pay the landholders in Waikaka Valley for land taken for the Waikaka railway. Mr M'Kenzie replied as follows: — ' The majority of the claims for compensation for land taken for the railway referred to by the honourable member have been already settled. In 13 cases, -where the amounts to be paid had already been agreed upon, the vouchers were prepared and sent forward to the Treasury for payment in August last. Ir 11 other cases the titles to tlie land were encumbered, and the mortgagees and other person* apparently entitled to the compensation were duly communicated with on August 10, and of that number nine have since been settled ivith. The remaining two have not yet answered the letters sent to them. In four other cases no sgreements as to the compensation to be paid ha/c yet been arrived at. The owners of the land have been formally notified of the taking of the same, and it now rests with them to send in their claims."
Mr Scott (Tuapeka) asked the Minister of Public Works wh-en the work of raising the embankment of tbe Greenland Swamp dam would be commenced
The reply was that the work had been delayed owing to difficulties that had arisen in connection with certain private watei" rights, but that the whole question was receiving the consideration of the Government. In reply to Mr James Allen (Bruce) the Minister for Works said he could not at present say when the erection of the Kaitangata Post Office would be proceeded with.
Mr Allen spoke strongly against this evasive reply after all the correspondence and the promises that had been made. Mr Anderson, asked the Minister of Lands -whether he would have the proclamation removed from the worked-out forest reserve in Block IV, Oteramika Hundred, Southland, and have the land cut up into suitable areas for settlement on the occupation-with-right-of purchase tenure.
Sir Joseph Ward said that the necessary proclamation lifting the State forest' reservation from land in Block IV, Oteramika Hund.ied, and o.ther distrjete, bacL already, been laid before Padiament in< accordance wiUi .act, and. the, land..! would therefore automatically • become Crown land at- the conclusion of^tbe car-*! rent session. ' It would then be available for disposal under the- Land. Act- in the usual manner-.. , '
>— ■•Many & man. hm«? landed ar gaol by I- **ldttgtr thing* «a«y* --' .-p-i--- j.|
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 87
Word Count
793VARIOUS OTAGO MATTERS. Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 87
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