MANAWATU RAILWAY PROPERTY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13917, 20 March 1909, Page 5

MANAWATU RAILWAY PROPERTY.

GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY LOCAL RATES.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 19. The losses to the local bodies' through the Manawatu Railway Company selling out to the Government was th© subject of a deputation to the Hon J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways this afternoon. The Horowhenua, Hutt, and Makara County Councils, Levin Borough Council, and Otaki Road Board were represented. Mr Field, M.P., said the Government pf the day, which gave an area of land to the company, did not protect the local bodies in respect tp roads. The company, therefore, cvt x up its lands without providing roads. The Manawatu Company had paid rates, but nothing like the. amour t which should have been obtained. The Horowhenua County Council had raised over sixty special loans at various times, but the Manawatu Company's land, though reckoned as part of the contributing area, was now being dropped out, throwing further burden upon the remaining ratepayers. Some method of "tapering off in respect to local rates had been promised. Mr M'Cleavy, chairman of the Horowhenua Council, said the company was paying £600 in rates, which would now Mr Galloway said the Hutt County Council was losing £250 per annum. Mr S. Bryant said the Makara County's annual loss was £157. Mr Millar said he was not aware of any promise of the "tapering off" policy. "He would be candid. The Government would not pay local rates. Regarding the question of special rates, there was some force in the deputation's contention. He was not sure as the Act stood whether the Government might not be forced to pay. any special rates payable by the company prior to State purchase. He was securing the Crown law officer's view on this point. If the advice was to that effect, the Government had no desire to get out of any legal liability. In all probability the Government would pay any special rate which the company had paid. It was true the' local bodies had iost their thirds, but he questioned whether these were as valuable as the increased revenue resulting from the railway causing an enhanced value of the land.