THE MINISTERIAL PARTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4634, 5 December 1923, Page 2

THE MINISTERIAL PARTY.

CONTINUATION OF PLAINS TOUR. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS RAISEDThe Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture and Acting-Minister 'J Lands-, and the Hori. R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, continued their tour of the Hauraki Plains on Monday. The party arrived by the 9.40 a.m. ferry from Kopu, drove through the Orongo soldier settlement, and then proceeded to Kerepeshi via Turua and Piako Road, receiving deputations en route. The new American steam dipper dredge was inspected, and the Kerepeehi block was visited, and the stopbank, flood-gates, and roads examined. Lunch was partaken of at the Kerepeehi boardinghouse, and the party proceeded to Paeroa, a deputation being received at Puke Bridge. AT ORONGO. At Orongo Messrs C. J. Dean and J. M. Smith brought up several matters on behalf of the soldier settlers. In reply Mr Nosworthy said that it was not right to say that a Cabinet Minister had not visited Orongo. The Hon. Guthrie had visited the settlement. With regard to the request that control of. the area be transferred from the Lands Department to the Agricultural Department, the Minister said that he was not prepared to grant this, but would find a man from the Agricultural Department who would work in conjunction with the Lands Drainage Department with a. vie.w to seeing what could be done. The department would do its best to get the remaining sections settled so that thev could -be brought under cultivation. Wtih reference to .the reouest that the Kirikiri bridge be erected, that was a matter for the local bodies and the Public Works Department. It would eventually have to go before the Cabinet, and both Mr Bollard and he had promised to. support it. Mr O. N. Campbell and Mr J. B. Thompson would visit the Plains early in the New Year and would look into the question of the allegedly unsatisfactory state of the drains of the estate. He would not make any promises other than that he would look into the question of providing the settlers with grazing on Cnwn lands during the - winter months. ;

AT TURUA. At Turua the Minister of Lands was interviewed by the chairman and members of the Hauraki Drainage Botrd and asked the position in regard to a certain subsidy, about which there was some misunderstanding. The Minister said that the subsidy was now available, and that the contribution for the Horahia scheme con’d be paid in instalments if desired. PROPOSED DRAINAGE BOARD. At the Piako Road corner the delegates appointed in connection with the proposal to form a drainage board to control the area between the two rivers were assembled. Mr W. E. G. Willy said that the deputation represented 185 ratepayl- - They had been appointed to go into the question, and had decided to ask the Government to do certain work. The request was not for a grant, but that the money paid by the settlers, should be expended. The Hauraki Plains Act provided for the area to be made fit for settlement, yet it 1 was flooded for long periods on three occasions during last winter. He asked that this state of things be relieved. Mr Nosworthy said that work on the improvement of Price’s outlet was at present being undertaken. The Chief Drainage Engineer stated that the Department expected the owner to fence this outlet, as he was deriving great benefit at no cost whatever. Drainage boards had power under the Act to compel landowners to fence drains, but there was no such power in the Hauraki Plains Act. Mr Willy asked what was the position. with regard to the Native land at Kerepeehi, and inquired who was to stop-bank that land. Mr Campbell said'that the owners should do it. The Under-Secretary for. Lands, Mr J. B. Thompson, said that the Department intended to widen the river at that place, and the spoil would form a stop-bank. Mr Willy said that six flood-gates, had been abandoned in the area and nothing had been put in their place, and successive winters had proved that the number of flood-gates was inadequate. Mr Campbell said that the gates had been temporary ones, put in to la«t only until the country was in a fit state to stand permanent gates. The Minister said that the land had been sold for an average of £5 10s, and the Department had spent the whole of this. Mr Campbell said that the reasonable thing to do was to form the drainage board and apply for a subsidy. The Department had taken the drainage rate, but had spent it on the land. Mr Willy said that the floods had caused a drop of 33 1-3 per cent, in the season’s output of the Plains dairy factories. The Hon. Mr Nosworthy said that the Government had spent every penny it had received on drains and roads. It could not be said that the work was not successful, considering that the land was of no value when operations were commenced. He could not make any promises without going into the question thoroughly, and he would let the deputation know the result later. As much improvement w r ork as possible was being done, but the trouble was to find the necessary money. Mr Willy said that the whole job could be done for £2500. The Minister laughingly asked Mr Willy if be would take over the whole thing if he gave him £2OOO. Mr Willy ; Yes. The Minister: Well, I’ll think it ov-'r after I’ve had a good meal and a sleep. Mind you, I haven’t said that

I I would do it. I only wanted to get your opinion. ; Mr Willy said that the .formation of the drainage board would be proceeded with. The law prevented an amalgamation with the Hauraki Drainage Board under an equitable basis, and two representatives to the Hauraki area’s five was not fair. However, it was intended to form the board and amalgamate at the first opportunity. The settlers were prepared to shoulder their burden. EXPERIMENTAL FARM. Mr J. C. Miller asked if It was not possible to establish an experimental farm on some peat land on the Plains. The Minister of Agriculture said that he would look into the matter. DAIRY CONTROL BOARD. The ■ chairman of the Hauraki Plains Dairy Co, Ltd., Mr A. H. Rogers, asked the Minister of Agriculture if he would have the ward system of electing members of the Dairy Export Control Board introduced. He pointed out that it was not possible for the settlers to vote intelligently for representatives from distant parts of the island, and the present systein would tend to have local representatives only elected. The Minister said that he had desired to have the college system, bu: the House had voted against this and decided upon ,the open vote. He would like to see the ward system, but would make ho promise tc get an amendment until he saw how the present system worked. AT KEREPEEHI. Messrs E. S. Masters, J. Twist, and W, Booth, representing the Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association and Citizen’? Progressive League, waited upon the Minister of Lands. TOWNSHIP ROADS. In asking that the roads and footpaths of the township should be formed and metalled Mr Masters pointed out that the land had been sold by tho Government as town sections to Government employees at much above, the cost price. An ordinary person cutting up land into building site; was compelled to form a/nd metal the roads. Mr H. Poland, M.P., supported, contending that the Government should do the same, particularly as it had made such a profit out of the transaction. Mr H. Booth said that they only asked for about 35 chains to be done. A light coating of metal was all that was required, as the traffic was light. The Minister said he was prepared to look into the matter. He could not give any undertaking except that the roads and footpaths would be formed. The Government had spent a lot of money on roads, and this request would be establishing a precedent if agreed to. KEREPEEHI SPORTS. Mr Masters said that there was some difficulty in regard to the legality of the Kerepeehi sports. The association had been hampered- by the local constable, who contended that the meeting wax an illegal race meeting. The association contended hhet the events-could not; be classified as horse races, as each one was broken. The skill and speed of the rider were very big factors. The association desired the Minister .of Internal Affairs to look into the matter and grant a permit to hold the sports as u'sual. It did not wish to break the law, but the association wanted an assurance that it could hold the annual sports without interference from the police. .At the last sports the local constable had taken the names of all the competitors and so scared them that the meeting resulted in a financial loss. The Hon. R. F. Bollard said that if a programme was sent to him he would see what could be done. He would do all he could to help the for he very much preferred to see country people have their own sports -meetings instead of going to the cities. PUKAHU ROAD PETITION. A deputation, comprising Messrs E Jamieson. W- Simpson, and E. Townsend/stopped .the Ministerial car at the Puke bridge and presented a petition from 12 settlers asking for a subsidy for the road between the Crown settlement and the river. The deputation pointed out that the road would be a main outlet for the Crown settlers, yet these men, thinking they ovould get better treatment from the Government because they were Crown tenants, had refused to help pay for the road.’ The settlers fronting the road were prepared to pay for the work provided a sufficient subsidy to bring the rate down to a reasonable amount was granted. The estimated cost of the job was £6OOO, and ■ there were only 11 settlers in the rating area; and, consequently, the rate required would be between 7d and 8d in the £. In reply to the Minister Mr, J. B. Thompson said tha®the. Awaiti settlers would undoubtedly use the road. Mr Simpson pointed out that the D-.partment was contemplating making this road a main outlet, but when Wilson’s Road was opened the project wa« dropped. The Hon. Mr Nosworthy said that ho would look into the matter and let the settlers know the result. The Hon. Mr Bollard said he would do what he could to help the settlers get out of the mud.