MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 393, 18 April 1902, Page 2

MANAWATU RAILWAY.

O"— STATE VERSUS PRIVATE

ENTERPRISE.,

BOTH SIDES SATISFIED,

(Per Press Association).: WELLINGTON, last night. Mr Kirkealdie, Chairman of the Manawatu Railway Company, says he 'is not alarmed at the action of the Government in terminating the agreement with the Company, Interviewed to-day, Mr Kirkealdie assumed the Government would not attempt to interfere witii the present passenger and mail services, but would keep up the connection from Longburn in this respect as heretofore. The decisio t mainly affected the carriage of goods, particularly frozen meat, produc*, merchandise, and coal. The Company had been accustomed to pay to the Government all termiml haulage charge on such goods, so it was not losing anything in this respect under tile agreement. It was impossible to say to wiiat extent the Company would be affected until it was known to what lengths Government was prepared to go. Personally, Mr Kirkealdie doubted whether, in view of past experience, the Government rolling stock could cope with any increased traffic such as was apparent!/ anticipated, but lie thought that tfic saving in time effected by sending goods by the company’s lino would prove a factor that consignees would consider when faced with the question of which line to patronise. The Acting-Premier has informed a Post reporter that the termination of the running rights held by the Manawatu railway was not taken with the object of depreciating the value of the Company’s property, and there was nothing of the dog-in-the-manger policy about it. He contended that what the Government was doing was in the best interests of the colony. Personally he had all along been indifferent to taking over the railway, so long as the Government got tiie traffic for its own lines. He further stated that the Government intended to maintain their present connection with the Manawatu railway, and were arranging to provide accommodation at Longburn.