MINISTERIAL VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1933, Page 5

MINISTERIAL VISIT

HON. J. BITCHENER

WELCOME GIVEN AT HOKITIKA. The. Minister of Public Works, and Acting Minister of Education - (the Hon. Bitcliener), in the course of his first offiicai visit to the Westland Electorate visited Hokitika yesterday, ancl received deputations at tile County Chambers last evening when the County tin air man (Mr W. Jeffries), presided. There were also present, the leader of the Opposition (Mr H. Holland), Mr J. OHi ion, M.P., the Mayor of Hokitika (Mr G. A. Perry), the District engineer (Mr Johnston), representatives of local bodies, and commercial inteiests. The Mayor on behalf of Hokitika said he was very pleased to welcome the Minister. He hoped that his visit would be enjoyable, and that what he saw here would be instructive to'himself and to the people here. The present Ministers were carrying a very heavy burden and the people should do everything to help them in carrying out their arduous duties. We should not only sympathise with them, but they should sympathise ‘with us, for we were all in the samO|-b<|ab , y Mr O’Brien welcomed ener to this part of tliewepeaker’fv electorate,. The Minister hud consent-, ed to come at Mr O’Brien’s invitation, and their'’’guest, wherever he had gone, had given earnest consideration and sympathetic replies. He hoped that the Minister would make an early return visit to the Coast. Mr Jeffries said that Mr Bitcliener must realise the handicaps and difficulties under which Westland was labouring. He felt that they could appeal to him that their require* ments, though few, warranted consideration. It' was not often they had a Cfliinet Minister and two M.P.’s here at the same time. He regretted that Mr Bitcliener wag unable to continue to South Westland, a very extensive' territory, with wonderful possibilities. Mr Jeffries referred to the - excellent services rendered by the District Engineer (Mr Johnston). . The Minister thanked the . speakers for the very cordial welcome, which had characterised his tour to date. ‘I fully appreciate the; difficulties under which you live and work, hut I must say that your settlers here, are just as prosperous as anywhere else in New Zealand. If you have met the full effect of the depression, I will say that you are the most cheerful, and are weathering the storm as well— an. any. He was pleased to hear that-. Mr Johnston . was giving satisfaction to the people, as lie was to the Department. The speaker - said that he had spent practically, all his life on the land, and he was pleased to meet the people who were making ft living, at tanning The farming population was not doing at alj; wjell, and, consequently, New Zealapdj. was in a had way “I do not tliinkf'llowover,”. lie said, that it will be very long before the majority of the. people, will forget the difficult days through which they are now passing,” . The chairman also welcomed . Mr Holland, who said that he was only too willing to help Mr O’Brien, ft« the representative of the district, and was prepared to give the same help to any representative of an electorate, regardless of party, in any work which was for the common good of the public. He hoped Mr Bitcliener’s visit would result in bringing about an improvement in the present position of some necessary matters. , ■ •