LOSS TO LOCAL BODIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 47, 20 March 1909, Page 2

LOSS TO LOCAL BODIES.

STATE ACQUISITION OF THE .MANAWATU LINE. By Telegraph.—Press Association, W ellingtoii, Last Night. Hie losses to the local bodies through the .Manawiitu Railway Company selling out to the Oovorninent was the subject of a deputation to the lion. .1. A. .Millar, .Minister of iiailwavs, this afternoon. The llorowhenua, llu*tt, and Makara County Councils Levin Huiwh Council, and Otaki Road Hoard were represented.

Mr. j,,,,id ; inK> s . lid l]le uoyernment of the day, which gave an area of laud to the company, did not protect the local bodies in respect to roads. The company, therefore, cut up its lands without providing roads. The Mainwatii Company had paid rales, hutVothmg like the amount which should have been obtained. The lliirowheuua County Council had raised over sixty special loans at various times, but tiie .Manawiitu Company's laud, though reckoned as part of the contribulin- area wis now being dropped out, thruwiii" further burden upon tho rcniainiii'.- ratepayer* Some method of " tnperin* ojr" in respect to local rates had been promised. .Mr. .McCleavy, chairman of the llorowlleiiua Council, saiu Hie company wis l«,ving CliOO in rates, ivhid, would now be lost.

-Mr. Calloway said tJu- Uutl Cuniv i Council was losing ,iv;f>l) -, )nr m i,n m ' -Mr. S. Bryant said tin, Makara (onnly's iuimuil loss was a">7 .Mr. .Millar s; ,i,l l„, „, lrf ;, ot :,„,,,.,. of any promise of tliu " taprrin.-oli " policy He would Ik. („n,li<|. T |,e Government would not pay local rales. Kegarding llii) question of special rates, there was some force in the deputation's contention, lie was not sure as the Act stood whether the Government might not be I

forced to pay any special rates payable >v the company prior to State purchase, lie was securing tl a , v m v\\ law ollicer's view on this point. If the advice wis to that ellect, the Government had no desire to get out of any legal lialiilitv. Ju all probability the Government wonid ■liay any special rate which the company had paid. Jt was true the local bodies had lost their lliirds, hut lie questioned whether these were as valuable as the increased revenue resulting from the railway causing an enhanced value of the laud. .