Provincial News

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 103, 18 May 1937, Page 3

Provincial News

CIVIC WELCOME ■ ■ ■ • — • Hon. F. Jones in Wairoa (From Our Own Correspondent.. WAIROA, Last Night. At the close of the deputation business with the Hon. F. Jones, Post-master-General on Saturday night, an adjournment was made to the Borough Council Chanibers, where a civic welcome was tendered to Mr, Jones. The chairmau, Cr. F. Berry, tendered an apology for the absence of the Mayor; Mr. H. L. Harker, and. the deputyMayor, also Mr. P. J. Brewster, chairmau of the Harbour Board. The attendance was a representative one, including mainly members and officials of local bodies, and a few civil servants. The toast of "The King" having been duly honoured, the cliaiirman extended a hearty welcome to the Minister to the district. The Minister 's do* partment, he said, was a very important one, and it must be gratifying to him that he. had an excellent officer and staff in Wairoa, and there were no requests or complaints to ventilate. Mr. Nolan, on behalf of the county, added his welcome ori the occasion of the Minister's first official visit to Wairoa. He would Idke to endorse what the chairman had said, that tbere wero no complaints to make, nor could they find any; they had a good postmaster and a good office staff, small though it was, and if that high standard of efficiency as disclosed by the work at Wairoa could be made general in New Zealand, th'en the Government must deserve great credit. Mr. J. Corkill said that, liko Mr. Berry, he desired to adcka welcome ou behalf of his board to the Minxster, and said he hoped he would be back again soon. It was not necessary for him to say that he thanked the Government and the Public Works Departraent for the way they were hastening to complete the railway leading to a deep-sea harbour in the making, where the meat boats lay in 50 or 60 feet of water. The question of the harbours on the coasts of New Zealand was a stiff problem to handle, and they wero thankful they now had a Government game enough to tacklb that job. Archdeacon Butteriield added his welcome to the Postmaster-General and paid a tribute to the local staff, but the office was understaffed and at times the employees had to go like scalded cats. (Laughter.) * Mr. D. Coleman, M.P., tendered his welcome to the Minister, testifying to the close relations between the Minister and himself for many years. The New Zealand postal department was, he thought, second to none for the work it carried out, and the way it did it. He proposed the toast of ".The Guest, " which was heartily given witli musical honours. Minister 'a Beply, The Hon. Mr. Jones, who was received. with applause on rising to reply, thanked the proposer of the toast and the several speakers for thoir hearty welcome to the district. He was pleased to see the district and to ascertain some of its needs. He was grisatly impressed with his trip so far. He understood the East CoaSt ownfed "oiletonth of tho sheep iu the Dominiqn, and all the slock ho saw looked well. He referred to the energy displayed by the settlers and local authorities iu making good tho damage to buildings, roads and bridges, and it all showed they came of the right stock. He was greatly impressed with the big viaduet at Mohaka, and the Hon. Mr. Semple and His band of engineers and workers deserved every credit for the work. He acknowledged the warmth of the references to the Postal Department, in which he had the ovorsight of 10,000 employees, and he knew they did work hard. He touehed on his duties as Minister of Defence, and believed he would yet make a soldier out of Mr. Coleman. (Laughter.) That portfolio was one of great responsibility, and it was good for them that they were a unit in the British Cotnmonwealth, and that unit -they were bound to defend. Tho Government was faaing that issue, and would have by Aug^st 1 a new and up-to-da'te cruiser; the various depots would be made effic.ient, and air ports established and so keep in line with Britain on which heavy demands for defence had been forced. Mr. Jones dealt with the matter of broadcasting on lines dealt with in the Press and especially the B stations, addihg that the Government collected 25/- a year from owners and radios, and it felt bound to give the people the very best service possible. They would not lose the B stations if they were officicnt, and he concluded by payiug a tribute to the persistence -of Mr. Coleman in pressing hie requests for consideration for his constituents. A vote of thanks to the chairman and the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" closed the gathering.