Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1923, Page 2

Tiik Motherland is making gallant efforts to retrieve its position in regard to agriculture. During the war time, the weakness of the United Kingdom to supply its teeming millions with food, was brought home stringently, and remedial measures were taken up. Particulars have been given already in this column as to what is being done, andl we notice by a late mail that the Agricultural Tribunal of Investißatio’ii for retioviug the present British agricultural crisis, is delving deeper into tho subject. An official statement has now been made by the Government expressing the opinion that, in regard to railway rates, tho companies are in a. position to make a drastic reduction, and pointing out that tile remedy is in the hands of the agricultural industry by application to the Railway Rates Tribunal.* In this connection meetings between the parties arc being arranged, and the Ministry of -Agriculture have expressed their willingness to render assistance. The Government are not adopting the recommendation of the Tribunal in regard to an import duty on hops, but will deal with the. claims of growers before the expiration of the present period of control in' 1925. With regard to local rates, it has l>oen derided that the Road Fund surplus, amounting probably to over 61,250,000. should ho devoted to the relief of rates for the upkeep of rural roads, and the Government also intend to introduce a Bill this .Session to reduce the assessment of agricultural land from one-half to one-quarter, making good the di fie re nee by an Exchequer grant The "hole question of the agricultural position was debated in tho House of Commons on the vote for the Ministry of Agriculture.

'run Hokitika Borough Council is entering on an important phase of its civil duty. It is now undertaking the task of the expenditure of the £6,(100 lean authorised by the ratepayers, £5,000 of which has been raised on excellent terms. When the loan proposals were before the former Council, the following wero tho draft details ol the works, to be undertaken: - - £ Tailored Street., paths and drainage 250 liampden Street, korbing and drainage 050 Sowell Street, korbing ... 300 Fitzhorbert Street, korbing and drainage 4•>o Stafford Street, road repairs 150 Healey Si root, road repairs and drainage 420 Briltiin Street, korbing and drainage 150 Rolleston Street, reading and drainage , 570 Weld Street, widening etc. 200 Gibson Quay, korbing etc, 360 Sale Street, drainage and footpaths 1,500 Extensions, drainage, roads etc., 1,000 £6,000

Trill Council this week selected Sale Street drainage, Rolleston Street reading, Tailored Street paths and drainage, and Hampden Street paths and roadway for attention in tho first place. Those will lie all, practically, jiernianent work which is urgently necessary. The Sale Street drain is intended to tap the swamp lands at the rear of the State School, so as to render the area in that quarter more usable for building pur]>oses. Rolleston Street extension to Stafford Street is necessary to give access to some seven residences in that locality, and avoid the present danger arising through vehicles using a narrow pathway lor egress, fancied Street is to lie put in shapely order for tne Exhibition time, while tho widening and improving of Hampden Street is very urgently required for the volume of traffic using that thoroughfare on several special occasions during the year. The Council proposes to proceed with the works methodically. Each is to ho laid off by an engineer, and an estimate prepared. Tenders will then be called and the work carried out in accordance with definite, specifications. M ith these safeguards the ratepayers should rewire good value both in regard to the stability and usefulness of the works and also in references to the most eeonomio way of carrying out tho town improvements.