HON. E. A. RANSOM

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1929, Page 5

HON. E. A. RANSOM

INTERESTING STATEMENTS. <5 IN REGARD TO BACK BLOCK ROADS. By Telegraph-Press Association). BLENHEIM, May 16." Lion. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Public Works) spent, the morning in and around Blenheim, later departing .Nelson wards’. He received a number of deputations on local requirements. , Replying to a civic welcome the Minister said in connection with river protection schemes' it was a pity when some of these schemes were started that some betterment' system had not been introduced, so that landownprs substantially benefit’ting by a protective or drainage scheme, could be compelled to contribute for the benefit of those worse off’ He, could.assure them that in any new scheme such as that proposed in Manawatu, the principle of betterment-would be put into operation before any assistance would lie forthcoming from the Government. Mr Ransom also touched on roading problems and gave the Reform.adminis* trntion full credit for tho great improvement in roads in recent years, but in travelling round he realised there was’a great deal to he done dop the country hack roads . and that would have to he tackled. He ‘had been threatened that if ho interfered with the petrol tax there would lie a howl from motor organisations, hut lie did not care much. if there was. It was obvious that there were many hackblocks payers of petrol tax who had not howled loud enough in the past. They required just as much consideration as those motorists who had the privilege of motoring over our nice bitumen roads.