The Manawatu Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 31 May 1902, Page 3

The Manawatu Railway.

At the social at Otaki to Mr Field, Sir Joseph Ward speaking referred to the Manawatu railway and the policy of the Government in regard thereto, Sir Joseph said ho had never hesitated in declaring that the line should belong to the State. It would be a good thing for Wellington, for the country districts directly concerned, and for the whole colony for the line to come under State control. This would have been brought about had it not been that the directors were divided amongst themselves. One side was willing that the Government should take the railway under the original agreement. Others wanted to sell the railway to the Government and retain the land. This meant that the longer the land was held the greater the value which would be put upon it as the result of concessions under a progressive State railway policy, and the proprietors would reap the benefit. He said the Government would not be justified in assenting to any such proposition. An attempt had been made and fomented to raise false sentiment in connection with this matter, but as the responsibility of the Government was to the people as a whole, they must refuse to be influenced by such considerations in the direction of paying for the line more than it was Worth, The responsibility lay with the directors. It was the clear duty of the latter to lay the position before the shareholders, and if the shareholders said “ don’t sell,” then the colony would not try to prejudice their interests. But this must be remembered, it was the duty of the Government to give the producers all reasonable concessions, and if the Manawatu Company did not do the same, the people in the districts served by the railway would have legitimate cause for complaint. He appealed to the people of Otaki to support the policy of the Government, and not allow any injustice to be put upon them. The Government should how legislate to prevent the laying down of any further private railways. In every case the acquirement of such lines by the Government had been made the excuse for a lot of sentimental humbug, and in every case added value had been given to them under State control, because of the concessions given by the Railway Department. He said a great point bad been made of the service rendered to the colony by the Manawatu Company, but he assured his hearers that if the railway had not been built by the company it would have been built by the Government long ago. He urged adherence to the policy of insisting that if the line was sold the land must be given over too.—N.Z. Times.