PREMIER IN PUKEKOHE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 45, 19 November 1912, Page 2

PREMIER IN PUKEKOHE.

Some Deputations. In pursuance of the decisions arrived at I various meetings, and which have been fully reporced in the "iirr.es," various deputations mt the P ime Minister during his visit to Pukekohe on Saturday The deputationists comp ised ML ssis <>. K. Lawrie, Mavof of Fukekohe; J. W. John", D. R. Hamilton, J. A. Cimrie, B rough C unci!; K. F. Webster, B. H. Andrew and A. B. Barter, Chamber of Commerce: J Fianaaa", Drury Prgtssve Leagus; and J G. Rutherlnrd. Mr Lawrie put tha case for the alt r.d triin arraigements, aid the Piime Minister replied, saying that the Hon. Mr H -rrie-, Mi> ister for Railways, w.uli be in the North early in the week, and the deputation cculd place its proposals before him. He was quite in sympathy witb the proposal made by one of the deputation that the Main Trunk expresses should stop at Pukekohe at least on Sunday mor.ing and Sunday night, s" as to avoid the annoying delays over the week-er d for travellers to Wellington and Auckland, He would have pleasure in supporting the proposal when it was brought up, The Mayor also spoke fjr the recreation ground grant, and asked if tha Government could increase the £5Ol grant. Mr Massey said this wai impossible, as the sum bad been fixed on the Estimates and could not be altered until Farliament met again. He strongly advised the Council to try and raise £250 and take advantage of the £250 subsidy which, with the £SOO grant, would give £IOOO upon which to work f'r Hamilton asked if there was any chance of tha borough borrowing from the Government, and Mr Massey replied that as the borough had already borrowed more than the limit of £SOOO, nothing further could he done until the Government had overtaken the liabilities to which it found itself committed upon taking office. Mr Andrew argued very strongly for better ttain sarvices. There was need, he said, for a goods office in the goods shed, as it was only courting disaster to ask a man to leave his teams when he crossed ths line to the other office. Ha spoke of the local station being undar-staffed. They could not compare the output and staff at a phce like Huntly, which sent away its stuff in truck lots, with a place like Pukekohe, where a great volume was made up of small consignments. •Mr Massey said he would en* quire into these requests. Mr Anrdew also asked that the keeping of the telegraph office open from 7 tu 8 p.m. should be given another six months' trial, as <£be people did not yet know that the privilege existed, no advertisement of the fact having ever been made, Mr Webster pleaded with the Hon. R. Heat on Rhodes, Postmas-ter-General, for the fulfilment of the oft-repeated promise that t!.telephori? line from Auckland to Pukekohe should be duplicated, as the pressure of business justified this course. Mr Andrew pointed out that the promise was made when there were only 25 subscribers to the local exchange. The line was very congested then, but it was a lot worse now that over 50 places were on <he exchange list. Mr Khodes, after asking certain questions, said he would go into the matter with the Department.