WESTLAND ELECTORATE

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1937, Page 6

WESTLAND ELECTORATE

The following replies have been received by Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., to matters placed by him before Ministers of the Crown and Heads of Departments:— KUMARA HIGHWAY Dear Sir,—The Hon. Minister of Transport has referred to me your letter of the 27th August addressed to the Hon. Minister of Railways regarding the reclassification of the Kumara Junction —Kumara road. There appears to be some misunderstanding over previous correspondence as in your letter of the Sth June last you stated.... “the Transport Department has recently reclassified the Kumara Main Highway.” As the Kumara—Haupiri Junction main highway had recently been reclassified, it was taken that this was the road to which you referred and I can only express my regret at this misapprehension. The Kumara Junction —Kumara road which is part of Main Highway 106, was reclassified in January, 1935, over 2i years ago. The proposed classification was advertised in the “Grey River Argus”, the “Greymouth Evening Star’, the “Hokitika Guardian”, the “Inangahua Times” and the “Inangahua Herald,” while in addition appropriate news articles appeared in each of these papers. Only one objection to the proposal was received from John Eadie, of Greymouth, who was advised that he would be able to obtain a permit to operate his lorry over the highway for the life of the vehicle. I am advised that certain other operators obtained permits but neglected to renew them from year to year and allowed them to lapse. The usual policy in regard to road classification is to allow these operators who had over-weight vehicles prior to the classification to continue to use these until they are worn out when they must be replaced by vehicles which will conform to the weight limit. While this road is of solid construction in the centre there is only a light coat of metal at the sides and it will actually require strengthening in order to bring it up to Class Three standard before it is sealed. I would suggest that you advise all those carriers who are affected to apply to the Main Highways Board for permits to exceed the 61 ton weight limit and I can assure you that each case will be fairly dealt with. Yours faithfully, G. L. Laursenson, Commissioner of Transport. SILVER PINE POSTS. Dear Mr O’Brien, —Further to my letter of 11th August regarding a. complaint that jarrah posts were being sold in Gisborne at £l3 per 100 while silver pine posts from Westland cost £l4 10s per 100 to land in Gisborne. I am now advised that the only importer of jarrah posts is Millars Timber and Trading Co. (Overseas Ltd.) and that the general manager of this company has stated that there will be no more supplies available at the price mentioned. It appears that a certain quantity was available from stock at £l3 per 100 but the company now have no stocks on hand and for the next shipment expected are quoting £l3 8s per 100 on trucks at main centres. With the addition of freight (£2 10s per 100) price of jarrah posts landed in Gisborne therefore will be £l5 18s per 100 which would appear to allow ample margin to enable silver pine posts to compete. The Department of Industries and Commerce has been instructed to keep in close touch with the position but in the meantime the circumstances do not appear to call for any further action. With kind regards, yours sincerely, Mark Fagan. MANANUI—HOKITIKA ROAD Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of your letter of 6th instant advising that you were recently approacned by the Hokitika Branch of the Automobile Association in connection with the representations made to the Railways Department for the construction of turn-outs on the Hokitika railway bridge, which gives access to the Hokitika aerodrome. I note that the local bodies are unable to contrioute towards the cost, and shall be pleased to give this matter my attention when I am shortly reviewing the estimates for the ensuing year. . I shall also be pleased to give further consideration to the question of the construction of a road from Hokitika to ’Mananui, and will advise you further as soon as I am in a position to do so. Yours faithfully, R. Semple, Minister ob Public Works. HOKITIKA HIGH SCHOOL. Dear Mr O’Brien,—l am in receipt of the telegram addressed to you by Mr Conning, Secretary to the Hokitika School Committee, referring to school and requesting that an early statement be made of ine Department’s intentions. In this connection I have to say that’the proposal to rebuild the Hokitika District High School occupies a position at the top of the Board’s list of urgent works, but no formal application for a grant has yet oeen submitted. The Board has been asked to submit this application and has been written to again asking that the matter be expedited. I note that the committee is endeavouring to secure temporary accommodation for school purposes, and no doubt these proposals will be submitted to the Department in due course. Kind regards. Yours faithfully. (Signed) P. Fraser, Minister of Education.