TARANAKI MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1920, Page 4

TARANAKI MATTERS.

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. WAITARA TRAIN SERVICES. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) asked the Minister of Railways, whether h< will have the train connection betweei Waitara and Lepperton Junction, whicl was stopped during the war period, ant which caught the 11.40 a.m. tram from New Plymouth to Wanganui, again reinstated ? Mr. Massey replied: A note has been taken of the request, but I regret t( say that under present circumstances il is not practicable to increase the trail) services. I shall, however, be glad tc review the position as soon aa more nor mal circumstances prevail. "AN EFFETE ACT."

Mr. Powdrell (Patea) suggested thi abolition Of the Mortgage Indemnity In surance Act. He said it was under stood there had never been a Claim made' and tens of thousands of ppunds had been thrown away by this effete Act. Mr. Massey replied: This question will be referred to the Committee which has recently "been set up A MORATORIUM. Mr. Powdrell (Patea) asked, the Government whether, seeing the greatly increased. rise in land values of dairying lands in New' Zealand, and the many mortgages now on farms through bring many times sold, and as these mortgages represent profits by each seller, they will take steps to protect the present ocoupiers and owners now holding the land by a moratorium? Mr. Massey replied: It it considered that the Act of lost year affords sufficient protection at present. SMART ROAD MEAT WORKS,

Mr. S. 0. Smith (Taranaki) asked the Minister of Railways whether he would consider the question of making a refund of a portion of the amount debited against the Taranaki Farmers' Meat Co, .Ltji., towards the cost of constructing permanent railway sidings at Smart Road, New Plymouth. , ' Mr. Mas6ey replied: I have looked carefully into the agreement entered into between the Taranaki Farmers' Meat Co. and the Railway Department for the construction of railway siding at Smart Road, and I regret I cannot authorise a refund of any portion iof the amount debited against the company. The total cost of the works carried out wag £5380. The terms on which the work vould be carired out were fully discussed between representatives of the aompany and the department on several occasions, the proportion of_the cost to be borne by the company being definitely stated an'cl ; the terms, accepted. The work Actually cost more than the original estimate, and, this additional cost was borne by (he department. The company is merely required to pay the amount they had originally agreed upon. SHIPMENTS 0® PHOSPHATES Replying to Mr. Masters {Stratford), who suggested that phdsjihate rock should be sent direct to New Plymouth, the Minister for Agriculture nays that the question of shipments going direct to New Plymouth will receive consideration in due course. It must be borne in mind, however, that the phosphates will require to be put through a grinding plant after reaching New Zealand. Hence nothing will bo gained by landing them direct at N T ew Plymouth unless a grinding plant of sufficient capatiiy is made available in the immediate district TRANSFER OF LEASES. The Minister for Lands:, replying-to Mr. Hawken (Egmont), states that the law prescribes that no transfer: of education leases administered by Land Boards shall be valid until the written consent thereto of the Land Board has been. obtained. The .board considers such a case on its merits, and can take into consideration all circumstances which, in its opinion, affect the proper administration of the public lands of the Dominion, such as aggregations, etc. The board has, therefore, power to approve or decline any transfer, but the power of refusal is rarely exercised. In cases of approval every care is taken to prevent undue delay, and so far at is known no consent is arbitrarily withheld. The Minister adds that be is prepared to inquire regarding particular cases.