OTAGO & HER WANTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 29 April 1913, Page 7

OTAGO & HER WANTS.

MANY DEPUTATIONS. BUSY DAY FOB HON. W. 11. HERHIES. (By Telegraph.-Proßß Association.) Dunedin, April 28. Tho Hon. AV. H. Ilerries spent :i busy time to-day in receiving deputations. Tho first deputation represented the Otago Boys' Hjgh .School Jubilee Association, which asked for railway concessions for old boys in other places in connection with the jubilee in August. Tho Minister pointed out that, if 110 granted the request, a precedent would ~ established, but he would give the application serious consideration. A deputation from the Oatlir.s Kiver sawmillers urged the cessation of tho rebate of Is. per 1011 ft. in favour of timber from SouthlaiuPso that the Catlins millers would bo put on an -equal footing. It was pointed out that, by the rebate, the railways were hauling timber at an unprofitable rate for long distances while the required quantity cuuld be brought from half the distance. The Minister said, when 0110 luokcd into the railway tariff, he found so many anomalies that the whole tariff would have to be examined, and he was waiting for the General Manager tu become familiarised with the country in ordor to go.through the whole question. This matter would not be overlooked. A deputation from the Burns Club asked for a special train to run to Timaru 011 the occasion of the unveiling of a statue of Kobert Burns, presented by Mr. Craigie. It also asked the Department to waive the usual guarantee. The Minister said that it seemed to 1)0 a question for decision between the deputation and the traffic manager. If .they, eould fix up matters he was prepared to authorise a special train, and tlio Department would not demand a guarantee. Mr. Konayne and Mr. Waite expressed themselves in favour of running a special train. Mr. J. Inglis Wright, of Mr. D. M'Auslin, bootmaker, brought before the notice of the Minister ,;a patent boot invented by Mr. M'Auslin for minimising tho risks of shunters whoso feet are occasionally caught between the rails at the points and crossings, for official test. The Minister said that the Department would make a test of the boot. In reply to another deputation the Minister promised to look into the question of the advertisement hoardings at tlio railway stations, and said that, unless a contract carried tlio right of renewal, it would not bo renewed. ■ A very strong deputation waited 011 the Miniate i', representing tho Lawreiuv Hoxburgli "Hallway League, the Otago Central liailway League, and the Dunedin Expansion League. Some nino' speakers advocated tho advancement of Otago, the importance and necessity of pushing the Lawrcnce-Koxburgh line to Jieaumunt, nnd carrying it further, it was also urged that the Otago Central railway bo constructed as far as Cromwell at least. Speaking 011 behalf of the Lawrsnee-lloxburgh . League, a member of tlio deputation stated thnt tho extension should go from Henuinont to It oxburgh, and not from Edievale. That was the only route that would suit them, as fruit-growers.

The Minister, in reply, said that Otago people were going the right way to get new railways—they lost 110 opportunity of advertising the country, and it would bo a good idea to get the North Island members down to seo tho country. They were working on tho right lines, but-he could not tell them when ..fruition would take place. He hoped next year to go over the route spoken of, and see a little more of the country. The question of how much land could bo opened up in the near future depended 011 Mr. Allen's report when ho returned from England nnd the position of the English money, market.

Mr. Herries also received a largo deputation of Maoris, representing. Kaiapoi, Moeraki, l'uketcraki, Otakau, nnd Henley, with icfercnoo to nintters of interest to the Native race: The Tiiitalm iltapo drew attention to the fact Hint free medical and hospital treatment had been given to Maoris in accordance with an agreement; with tho Ngaitalm tribe in JSJB. The services of doctors, ljowever, had now been dispensed with, and tho peoplo did not know the reason for this action.

Mr. Herries said that lie had been informed by the Native Department that the Government- paid X2OOO a year to the Education Department for free medical attendance for tho Maoris. It had recently heeii decided to introduce a new system, and notices to that cffcct 1 had'been sent out. Tho deputation could take his assurance that, it was not intended to do away with free medical attendance.

In respect to the Landless Natives Act it was stated that, whereas the Act provided for the granting of 50 acres to a landless Native, tlu're were -jascs where the holder held four lots under different uaine.-r. It was suggested that wlioro such was proved in a Native Land Court tlio land should be taken from .those persons who had more than they were entitled to and given to 31 aoris who had no land at all.,

Tlio Hon. Mr. Parata suggested the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into Nativo -land affairs.

Mr. Herries 'said that with regard to the administration of the Landless Natives Act, it was clear that something would have to 1,0 dono en the lilies suggested by Mr. l'arata.