PARLIAMENTARY TOUR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 40, 26 July 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY TOUR.

B&nauct ai Tauiaaruayi. The Parliamentary party, organised by Mr Remington, M.H.R., to travel over the Main Trunk Rail wry from Wellington, arrived at Taumarunui on Saturday evening. Among those present were Messrs Jennings and Greenslade (members for Egmont and Waikato- respectively), and the party also included the Hons. J. B. Calhn, T. K. Macdonald, and Jenkinson; Messrs Barber, Remington, T. Mackenzie, Hogan, Fisher, Izard, Buddo, and Wood ; Mr C. Wilson, (Parliamentary Librarian), Mr H. J. Blow (Under-Secretary for Fublic Works), and other officials. Special preparations had been made by the Taurnarunui residents for receiving the party, the members of which were entertained at a banquet in Meredith .House on the evening of their arrival. Mr J. E. Ward was chairman, and Mr C. J. Rj r an occupied the vice-chair. There were a large number of guests present, including residents from all the surrounding districts. Te Kuiti was represented by Major Lusk (Chairman of the Waitomo County Council), Mr T. Burd (District Roads Engineer), Mr J. T. Hetet, who had accompanied the party from Wellington, and Messrs T. Pine, Ormsby (2), R. Somerville, and several others. Ohura Valley sent a strong contingent, among whom were Messrs D. Sullivan, G. Loveday, T. Hunt, G. Dennison, W. Williams, and others. After the toast of " The King " had been honoured, the Chairman proposed " The Parliament " and, in welcoming the members to Taurnarunui, referred to the general progress of the district, and the essential part which a strong roading policy played in developing the resources of new country. He trusted the visit would be productive of good, and the members, in coming and seeing for themselves, were to be commended. The toast was responded to by the Hons. Jenkinson and Buddo. Mr Buddo said he was much struck by the wealth of fine timber country in the district, and recommended an economical course in felling the bush, which was a wonderful asset to the whole colony. He paid a tribute to the scenery through which they had passed and advocated the making of extensive reserves. The toast of " the Railways " was proposed by Mr C. J. Ryan, who referred to the railways as one of the greatest assets the colony possessed, and expressed the opinion that, notwithstanding the great expenditure in railway construction at present going on, a still greater scheme would pay handsomely. He referred to the Ohura Valley and strongly urged the members present to support a grant for the start of the Auckland-Stratford line from Ongarue. The line was already authorised, and a few years ago was strongly advocated in preference to the present Main Trunk route. When the question of route was settled then, a promise was made that the Ohura Valley railway would also be put in hand. Settlers to the number of two or three thousand would be affected, and an area of about two million acres would be opened up. The work hitherto had been concentrated on the Stratford end, and he appealed for support towards securing a vote for the early commencement of the line from Ongarue. Mr J. Ormsby supported the vice-chairman in his request for the Ohura railway, and Mr John Ormsby also urged the claims of the Ohura settlers. He also detailed the compact which was entered into between the Natives and the Government of the day, with regard to fencing the Main Trunk railway, and in leaving the line unfenced the authorities were guilty of a breach of faith. The speaker made reference to the appellation of "Taihoa" so often used in referring to the Natives. He thought the Government had appropriated the word and cl tain -d the copyright. Mr Hogan, in replying to the toast, commended the speakers for advoca ] ting the Ohura railway and admitted it was a necessary work. He would support Mr Jennings in asking for, a vote to commence at the Ongarue end. After eulogising the railway officials on the pioneer lines, the speaker said he thought the Wanganui river service, which was of national importance just as a railway was, should be taken over by the State, and he believed that would be accomplished before very long. Mr G. Loveday, in proposing the " Taurnarunui Electorate," brought forward strong arguments in favour of better roading into the Ohura, and also the completion of the StratfordOngarue railway. The country in the Ohura was all good, and seme capable of carrying three sheep to the acre. There was, he said, plenty of money wasted, and was sure that if the Members could be induced to go into the Ohura, a grant would immediately be placed on the Estimates for £IOO,OOO. The settlers in some cases have been known to pay more for carriage than the articles have, in the first instance, cost. He thought the Government should come to their assistance, because all they wanted was fair play. Mr Jennings, M.H.R., in responding, was received amidst great cheering, and in .his remarks said how pleased he was to see the settlers who had travelled such a long distance present,, and took it as a great honour. Fencing the railway line was first referred to, and he intimated that a return was being prepared to show what the work would cost,-and it was probable that the fencing >, " Id be started shortly. He was not Satisfied with the progress of the hospital, and stated that a sum of £ISOO had been placed on the Estimates, and, as the plans had been prepared, he hoped the work would soon be proceeded with. With regard to the damage done to the scenery on the Wanganui, Mr Jennings said that it was not great, and not the work of logs, as only sawn timber was floated dovv.n and that could be controlled just as easily as a boat. The Native Lands Question was a difficulty, but he maintained that the Natives should be given the right to deal y/ith their own lands, and a system of classification should be made. He was aware of the increase in settlement in Ohura, and as a proof mentioned that when he was first returned for Egmont,

there were only thirteen voters, and last election there was .something like four hundred. lie urged co-opera-tion with him in the matter of the Stratford-Ongarue r:dlwa.y, and was certain it would pay from' the start. The expense the settlers were put to in going to T:-ranaki over education and land matters, was unnecessary, and should be rectified. In thanking the committee for the sumptuous spread, said that the hospitality of the King Country had been a bye word for many years, but on this occasion they had really excelled themselves. Mr Laird proposed the toast of " Our Guests," and expressed gratification at the visit, which he thought would be. history-making as far as the King Country was concerned. He also urged the necessity of starting the Ohura railway at the Ongarue end. In referring to rafting he made an appeal in favour of settlers being allowed to raft timber to Akopae for building purposes. Mr T. Mackenzie, in responding to the toast, spoke vigorously on the subject of pioneer settlement. He was acquainted with the needs of country districts in the South, and when he saw the King Country district, he was strengthened in his opinion that a strong progressive public works policy was an absolute necessity for the colony. Much as a reduced tariff meant to the country, he thought that the people could wait for that until the pioneer settlers had been better provided for. If necessary, he would support a loan of three millions for the purpose. The speaker advocated the construction of a system of light railways, and could not understand why a scheme in that direction had not been adopted by Parliament. In many places they could be built more cheaply than roads, and would be of much greater benefit to settlers and to the colon}'-. Mr Fisher also spoke in response to the toast. He assured those present that the City members were not opposed to the interests of the country districts; they had only to understand the requirements, and it was universally recognised that the prosperity of the cities depended upon the progress and devolpment of the country. Mr Greenslade strongly advocated co-operation among the Auckland members, and cited the Arthur's Pass tunnel contract on the Midland railway as an instance of what combination between the Southern members could do. In the South the members united in agitating for works, and were invariably successful. That spirit was painfully lacking among the Northern members, but he hoped for better things in future. Dr Cairns Iproposed the toast of " Public Health and Our Township." He made an urgent appeal on behalf of the early erection of the hospital. Messrs Langmuir and Slattery spoke on matters connected with the township, including the question of tenure and the position of the Town Board. Other toasts honoured were " The Ladies," Mr Riches ; " Press," Chairman ; " Our Chairman," Mr Jennings ; and " The Hostess," Mr Laird. The banquet was concluded shortly before midnight, and on Sunday morning most of the members left by special train for Auckland, with the intention of catching the steamer for New Plymouth at Onehunga on Sunday afternoon. The arrangements in connection with the entertainment were excellently managed by the Committee, and Mr A. S. Laird, the hon. secretary, is entitled to a special word of praise for the able manner in which he conducted his arduous duties.