MINISTERIAL VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1928, Page 2

MINISTERIAL VISIT

HON 0. HAWKEN AH IUYK.S. 'lhe Hon. 0. Hawken, Minister for Agriculture and Commissioner in Charge of Forestry, arrived by ear yesterday afternoon and stayed at Keller’s Hotel. Air Hawken was accompanied bv Alls Hawken and daughter, and Mr Ellis ol the State Forest Service. Air Seddon. Ai.l’., arrived from Groymoith in the evening and joined the Jlinisterial party. In the evening Air Seddon introduced several deputations to the Hon. .Minister who is making his first visit to the ( oast.

WESTLAND COUNTY COFNCIL. Alter Mr Seddon and Hon. 11. L. Aliehel, M.L.C.. had extended a cordial welcome to the Hon. Minister. Mr .1. A. Murdoch. County Chairman, was introduced, and made a request for a legal enquiry into the position regarding the payment of royalties to local bodies (oneerned on the Coast. In doing so. Air Murdoch tea ceil the history of the ease, and pointed out how the local bodies- bad been penalised. Mr Seddon. speaking on behalf of Mr Hannan, of the (trey County, anil for Mr Holland, on hehall of tiie lluller and Imingaliua Counties, supported the i cqie-si a lid stated he understood the matter cull Id he arrafiged on the lines suggested. The points at issue were legal and it would lie satisfactory to have a final definition ol the position.

The .Minister replied that the subject was a much vexed one. A .Judge, however, could not traverse the policy of the Go.irnment. w hich was fixed by ( abincf, hut he might advise in regard to any legal dispute such as had arisen. It was realised the matter had local importance, but he doubted il the request could he acceded to. At the same time the matter would he looked into and lie would hear further what the local bodies ill the north had to say. Air Murdoch preferred a request lor road aeess to Schroder’s mill off .Soddon’s Terraco road, for which £!>() were asked to .supplement the CIO available from royalties. The -Minister replied his Department could not make grants for roads, hut he would refer the matter to the .Minister of Public Works. In eonm.etion with the timber transport levy, the Minister promised to authorise that returns from sawmills in the district would he supplied to the local body. WESTLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. All (I. A. IVit.v (President), and Dr Teichelmaiin (\ iic-Pi i sident) represented the views of the Society regarding the liirlher liberation of opossums in South Westland and the Minister promised to bring the request under the notice of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Hega riling the expenditure of the road vote from Kuatapu to Mahinapiia. the .Minister promised to telegraph urging the work he authorised. lie promised to take similar action regarding the expenditure ol the vote for the hut on Chancellor Hitlge. box . .aeier. GENERAL. At the request of Mr 11. A. llarcourl. .Mr Seddon urged the extension ol Station Hoad to open tip additional settlement land in the Koiterangi district. The .Minister was invited to visit the district, hut regretted his time did no,t permit on thi* present occasion. Kegarding the road, a note was made of the matter and would he brought to the attention of the Minister in charge.

.’speaking on matters relating to the Southern district. Mr Seddon urged the extension of the railway south to deal with the forest lands available in that locality, Mr Hawken said he would see Ihe district lor himsell during the next two or three days, and consider tlie matter.

A sawiiiilier.s' deputation was introduced and presented a case tor consul

oration relating lo timber cutting rights. M"lii.*ti the public deputations concluded Air Murdoch thanked the Minister for bis visit and attention, and Imped on the return from South tbe stay in town would la* long enough lor tlie laides of the town to take the ladies of the party to some ol the neighbouring sights. All G. A. Berry, as Mayor, joined also in the welcome to the Minister. .Mr Hawken thanked the public men for their kindness and good wishes. The present was his first visit, and it was a pleasure to he on the (oast. •Since his arrival he had been on the beach, and he was pleased to see that maram grass and lupins were doing so well. Some experiments might he made also with native trees and shrubs (hear, bean to add to the appearance of the suroundings. lie would see

what his departmental officers could do in the mater. He was sorry his stay was limited, hut he was due hack in Wellington hv a certain date, and alter visiting .South had to traverse the northern district to Nelson. On that account lie was sorry he could not cover all the ground they wished. The Aiitiisieral party motored south to-dav. A stop was to he made lor carlv lunch tit Ross, alter which tin* tramway of Stuart and Chapman Ltd. to the Wailahn was to he traversed, and the ear picket! up again. The party will he at Wailio (forge to-night and to-morrow (Wednesday). On Thursday morning the party motor to Okarito and alter a shotL stay, proceed to Waitangi to inspect the river erosion. Ihe party will lunch tit Matuinui. and take local deputations immediately following. Afternoon tea will he taken at Harihari. where further deputations will he taken, and the party returns to Hokitika in the evening, proceeding to Greymouth via Kumara on Friday lorenoon . Mr Seddtm, M.R.. is accompanying the party south.