GISBORNE REQUIREMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 200, 19 May 1919, Page 9

GISBORNE REQUIREMENTS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER "OF PUBLIC WORKS: By Telegraph-Press Association, Gisborne, May 17. Sir William Fraeer, Minister of Public Works, bad a busy day to-day, receiving deputations from all quarters of the district, including many on small local mattera. A request was made to Uie Minister for a Rrant of .£50,001), nnd-a Ai ipx£,\ subsidy for the main arterial road, Whangapawa to Napier. Keplvinj;, Sir William said that though in.the Estimates .249,000 was set down 'or local bodies between Napier and the East Coa6t, the sum didj not include railways,. If money was not espradod it was not his fault. It was due to the shortage of labour. Ho thought the request for a subsidy of JS2 for £1 unreasonable. Replying to another deputation concerning railway, construction,, the Minister eaid speakers had urged him to increase wanes to Ms, per day., Ho was not Roing to do it, because it would compete with private employment. He was satisfied he could gut men at 12s; per day, and he saw no reason why in a year's time ho shdald not have 4000 to 5000 men at his disposal. Land for soldiers was the eubjeet of another deputation. The speakers eaid that over two million acres had been purchased in the Dominion, but very little in Poverty Bay. When tho Conscription Act came into force the district had a eurplue of 500 men drafted to Canterbury and Otago, and seeing that was the case, Poverty Bay was entitled to the same consideration as these districts. Mr. Guthrio had been offored land at AM per acre, nnd no reason had been Riven for the refusal to pnrchase. Adjoining people had sold of late at £U Wβ. The Minister-" said the matter would be referred to the Minister of Lands, who was the most earnest member of the Cabinet in this respect.