THE HON. R. M'KENZIE

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 31

THE HON. R. M'KENZIE

DEPUTATIONS AT CROMWELL.

EECEPTION AT ARROWTOWN.

(Feosi Ottb Special Repoetek.)

. ARROWTOWN, August 7. The . Ministerial party reached Ci'omwell shoitly before midday, and was .waited upon by several deputations.

KEYSTONE BORER SUBSIDY.

Mr Charles Ray referred to the question of the vote for subsidising those ufaing the Keystone borer. The vote had been £1000, and now it was to -be only J8250, and he urged that this should be increased." ' Mr Horn alto spoke in support of the request. Mr W. Fraser A M.P., pointed out that it was not for the benefit of any private claim or wealthy syndicate, but for the benefit of miners generally. They would like to be assured of * Government assistance* for other places in' the neighbourhood than Bannockburn-.

Mr M. Spratt said he had been approached by one or two to get the use of the borer for Lowburn.

- The Minister said there was the one Keystone and three diamond drills, and maay would think themselves tucky if they got the drill without any subtidy at all. He referred to the fact that there were several applications for the drill, and the applicants were prepared to do. without any subsidy.^ However, if Government would give.him the moneyfor subsidies to work the drill or to purchase a few more drills, he would be glad, but he was not in a position to give any further subsidy

A TRAFFIC BRIDGE WANTED.

Mr L. Harris then mentioned the traffic bridge atJDeadrnan's Point, which would be of great benefit to the inhabitants. The people bad subscribed £50 for a footbridge, but £3000 would be required •for a traffic bridge, which would serve the double purpose. Mr W. Fraser said he thought the Minister would get a clearer idea of the matter if he got his engineer to report upon it. The Minister : I will get a report.

Mr M- Spratt pointed out that the •wages of the puntman in the locality came to £3 a. -week, and it would go on until the bridge wat. erected. The Minister : Why does not the County Council raise a special loan and build the bridge? Continuing, he said he would have the matter reported upon, and if the bridge would do away with the punt he thought the Cpunty Council was the proper body to build the bridge. He found that their rates were very low, and they had no special loan v He thought he would be justified in* asking the Government for £1 for every £2 which the local people themselves contributed. If they went on these lines, and agreed as to the site, he would get a report. Then he would wait for Mr Fraser to come and urge the matter. Mr Fraser put it this way : Even supposing the Government could not build the bridge, it would still have to go in for the footbridge. The Minister : Oh, I suppose the Government will give you* pound for pound.

BANNOCKBURN POST OFFICE.

Mr Ray said a certain amount of money had been put on the Estimates for the •Bannockburn post office, which would build a place ample for the requirements -of the district, and they thought the work should be gone on with. They •did not require a residence; as there were plenty of young people growing up there who would take charge. Mr W. Fraser said tbe post office had been a long-felt want. The Postal Department had plans to carry out which would cost a good deal, but they included a residence. The residents would rather have a place costing £300 or £350 than wait for one costing £750. The post offices at Cromwell and Lowburn were also incidentally mentioned by members of the deputation. The Minister said he would have their representations made to the Postmastergeneral. There were numerous demands ior post offices in this country. Everywhere the staff was sick, and for this the blame was laid on the building. Last year the Government had spent £300,000 on post offices, and when a post office was built other places in the vicinity wanted them built also. People had entertained extravagant ideas with regard to this matter. If the money had been voted and the plans were ready, there was no reason why the building at Bannockburn bhould not be gone on with, but he could •not put a stone down or- a nail in until the plans were approved of by the Post-master-general. The Minister then received a deputation which urged" the extension of the Otago Central railway, and after partaking of luncheon the party started for Arrowtown, which was reached shortly after 6 o'clock.

RECEPTION AT ARROWTOWN

At Arrowtown the Minister was entertained at a reception at which the demonstrations of welcome were of a very hearty and cordial nature. Mr H. M'Kibbin (the Mayor) took the chair, and made a very short bpeech of welcome to Minister and Mrs M'Kenzie. The Rev. Father O Donnell said that the welcome of the Arrow residents came from the depths of their hearts. The Arrow being almost completely isolated, it was difficult to compete with other dis■tricts in businebs; hence the greater need io develop their mining industry, which nrovided a market for local produce, and in helping that industry all must admit that their present Minister of Mines and his predecessor came to the rescue. Mr G. H. Romans (president of the ILake County Miners' Association) expressed the. welcome and congratulation* of that body, and thanked the Minister

for the support given to the prospecting parties, adding that there seemed to be a revival of mining, more ©specially at Macetown.

Mr G. D. Baird (chairman of the Wakatipu Prospecting Syndicate) said the Hon. Mr M'Gowan had offered a subsidy of £2 for £1 to prospect the Wakatipu di&trict. Everybody united to make the thing a success, and they subscribed £500, which with the Government subsidy made a magnificent sum to start with. He v submitted a report showing that the money had" been expended judiciously. Mr W. Reid (chairman of the Lake County Council) said that the department had treated the district fairly in the past, and no doubt would help them in the matter of roads in the future.

Mv W. Fraser, M.P., who met .with a particularly cordial reception, said the Hon. Mr M'Kenzie and himself had been associated in the House for a considerable number of years, and, when Sir Joseph Ward was choosing his new Minister of Mines, of all the men on the Government side of the House there was no one more competent for the position than Mr M'Kenzie. — (Applause.) The Minister, in the course of his reply, returned thanks for the very cordial reception accorded to Mrs, M'Kenzie and himself. He said he was fully alive to the fact that Wakatipu was>- one of the most important mining districts in the country, and he was glad to know that the Arrow was still doing fairly welL The Government had treated the mining industry in a most liberal manner. He proposed to leave the Keystone drill in the district for some time, and it would give him great pleasure if he found that money was fatill available to continue the subsidy to the prospecting association. He could assure the people that in Blr Fjaser they had one of the most attentive members in the House. He knew that from having worked with Mr Fraser for 16 years on the Goldfields and Mines Committee. They might think it strange for him (Mr M'Kenzie) to s>peak in praise o! a man who was on the opposite side of the House, But he proceeded on the principle that it was better to have the devil you know than" the devil -you don't know, and he .might add that although Mr Fraser often criticised the Government be frequently found his way into the right lobby. Songs were given by Miss "A. Cotter, Miss M. Jopp, Misses Youngman, and the Rev. H. Packe. On the motion of Mr De La Perelle a vote of thanks, was tendered the performers, and the ' gathering dispersed at 9.40 o'clock.