The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 1885. Private Sidings

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 43, 19 September 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 1885. Private Sidings

The resolutions passed at a meeting of sawmill owners held some time ago were duly forwarded to the member for Manawatu, Mr Macauthur. Immediately on receipt of these he tried to get some concerted action on the part of the members interested, but apparently with only partial success. Ultimately he wrote a letter to the Government, to which the signatures of twelve members were attached, urging the Government to state definitely in what direction the Minister of Public Works proposed to revise the objectional regulations. Anxiety was expressed that sawmillers and others having private sidings under existing agreements who supply a quantity of freight to the railway, should have some assurance that on the termination of their agreements, the Government does not propose to levy the heavy tax proposed in the cases when a siding provides a fair amount of freight. It was mentioned that in the opinion of the members who signed the letter, that the railway authorities should be prepared to treat good customers — if not with exceptional liberality as in ordinary business transactions — at any rate in such a way as to give them some assurance of the continuance of the state of things in the faith of which they have invested largely in plant and gone to other expenses for the development of an important local industry. The above is the gist of the letter. On the 11th inst. Mr Macauthur had received no official nply but he had been given to understand that the Government did not propose to enforce the tax on old sidings. This may be considered so far satisfactory so far as our own immediate neighborhood is interested. In new places where new sidings are being put in, whether to get at the bush, or for other purposes; persons desirous of doing so will be made fully aware of all the costs and charges for which they may be made liable before they have been put to any special outlay in erecting machinery. The thanks of those interested either directly or indirectly, are due to Mr MAeARTHUB for the efforts he has made to benefit and assist what is the staple industry of this district, especially as those efforts have been crowned with success.