That Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1896, Page 2

That Railway.

Those who have a correct estimate of the present Government will not be surprised at the information we published in our last issue that Mr McKerrow had reported adversely to the Levin Greatford railway. The Government cannot shelter themselves behind Mr McKerrow's report, for it is evident from the report that Mr McKerrow has been instructed to view, the formation of the line from one standpoint, and the deputation was assured that its value should D 9 guaged from a totally different one. The company, and the deputation, requested permission from the Government to make the line and after it was made the Government should work it. Under these proposals the company took all the risk of finding the necessary capital, also an equal risk with the Government in working the line, as the working would be, as is usual in such cases, on Bhares at so much per cent for the Government and so much per cent for the company. Thus if the working only realised so much per year that would be the sum the company would have to accept as interest upon the capital it had employed though it might not amount to more than two per cent. The Government had only the extra tear and wear of their, rolling stock to set against the company's loss. Thus it is evident the company took by far the biggest risks and were entitled to the fullest consideration. It will be yet a difficult matter for the Government to justify their refusal as Mr McKerrow admits the loss to the Government, if any, would be the division of the present traffic, thus believing that the Levin-Great-ford line would do the trade. The Government never said straight out that they would object to the line be cause it might divert the traffic on the present Government and Manas watu Company's line, as that was what the promoters fully relied upon its doing, but the deputation were told that the Government did not believe traffic would be induced over the proposed loop and that an expert should be seat to the district to Bee where the settlers expected the traffic to come from. Putting the question of decreased traffic on the Government line from Greatford to Longburn on one side* we hold that the objections urged by Mr McKerrow are the proofs asked for to justify the Government in granting the concession desired. We have part of the report and trust we may soon have the whole of it.