THE MINISTERIAL TOUR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5119, 29 April 1927, Page 3

THE MINISTERIAL TOUR.

IMPRESSIONS AND EXPRESSIONS. Now that the hurry and bustle of the Ministerial tour of the Hauraki Plains is over there is leisure in which to write up some of t'ne impressions gained and the minor incidents .which time and-, space did not permit being done, before. The salient feature wus_ undoubtedly the altered tone i,n which deputations approached the Ministers. Fol- ’ * lowing the lead of the comity council, speakers generally were reasonable in their requests and respectable in manner. Tlie hatchets had been buried and forgotten, and, except in Kerepeehi, the spirit of antagonism between settlers and the Minister of Lands and his department which had characterised the previous visit was •■“'entirely absent. .On their tour through the district the two Ministers overcame the prejudice and won the respect and admiration of the Hauraki Plains. By their friendliness and eagerness to hear all that the. numerous deputations had to say, and their frank explanation of their difficulties, a mutual understanding was arrived at, and although the two Ministers had to say “no” many times, in no case was this resented by reasonable-mind-ed settlers. The two men are of different types. The Hon. A. D. McLeod is plain and blunt, and endeavours to show the reasonableness of his attitude by an explanation of his side of the case. The Hon. K. S. Williams is no x less sincere, and his kindly nature seems quite naturally to prompt many an appeal that the goodness of his heart will overcome the soundness of his judgment. By the quickness of tho summing up of the representations made to them, their concern for the general taxpayers’ interests, and their desire to weigh all the facts of the case, in conjunction with those of other, calls before committing the State to expenditure, both Ministers x h.ave come to be recognised as sound administrators from whom a square deal may be expected. The Hauraki Plains will undoubtedly benefit from the visit of the two Ministers, who now thoroughly uifderstand as the result of their own inquiries *all the peculiar local disadvantages and problems. Another outstanding feature in coni_i — wtinn with the tour was the part played by the chairman of the County Council. It was by his efforts that the spirit of antagonism was replaced with a spirit of conciliation, and it was through his personal representation that the- tour was arranged. On several occasions the Minister of Lands referred to the good work of Mr E. L. Walton, whose local knowledge was of great assistance and whose tact in the control of had resulted in the efficient conduct of business. Mr McLeod specially referred to Mr Walton’s efforts during the past twelve months to bring about a better understanding between the settlers and the Lands Department with such happy results. Mr A. AL Samue.l, M. P. for Ohineinuri. also played a prominent part in bringing the wants of his constituents to the notice of the Ministers, and ( this fact was acknowledged by the Minister of Lands, when replying to a vote of thanks at Netherton.