NORTH AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 147, 17 March 1920, Page 8

NORTH AUCKLAND

A DEPUTATION IN WELLINGTON

SOME INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS Colonel Allan Bell (president o£ the Kaitaia Cluimber of Commerce) tind ill*. L. 11. Lane (member of the Whangaroa Countv Council) interviewed member of the Qovoriunent yesterday regarding inme of the needs of'the North Auckland district. They urged the importance of carlv completion of the Main Trunk railway from the present railhead at Oluiiliini to Awanui. with a branch line from Alaniramuka to the film harbour of Whaniraroa. They suggested that a contract should be let for the whole work .with a time limit, or alternatively that the neonle of the district should be allowed to form a company with a capital of ,£2.000,000 to complete the Main Trunk line, with proper safeguards for the public as to rates, and with State right of resumption on a comprtisaMon basis. The Minister of I'ublic Works. (Sir William Fraser) said that as a question of policy affecting the whole Dominion was involved, he. would have to put this scheme beforo Cabinet. He promised to do so at an early date. The deputation suggested to Sir William Fraser that a definite Government subsidy should be fixed for all moneys borrowed bv local bodies for road construction purposes. The present uncertainty regarding subsidies made it very difficult to place, a clear-cut borrowing scheme before the ratepayers. The Minister replied that it had been tho policy of the Government not to commit itself for more than a year ahead. He could net say at present whether this nolicv would be altered. It was a matter for Cabinet. - Colonel Allan Bell and Mr. Lane placed before the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. ll.'Guthrie)'a request that soldiers and other settlers should be allowed to accmire the freehold of endowment lands. The Minister replied that this question was under tho consideration of the Government, and would probably receive attention during the coming session.