THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1913. THE INLAND WATERWAYS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 138, 21 October 1913, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1913.

THE INLAND WATERWAYS.

" We nothing extenuate, nor set down auaht in malice."

The big deputation which waited upon the Prime Minister to urge the appointment of a Royal Commission, to corsider and report upon the possible development uf various waterways in the Auckland province, met with a very favourable reception. After hearing the opinions of the deputationists, Mr Maasey said that as an Aucklander himself he knew something of the P3tentialitie3 cf the districts affected by this question, and he was certain that in years to coma good uic "/ould be made of these waterways As member for Franklin he hau taken a great interest in the question, and years ago he had induced the then Government to obtain a report aa to the cost of a canal from the Waikato to the Manukau. This report showed that the approximate cost of a canal giving 4 feet of water at the Waiuku end v;ai £IOO,OOO. Nothing had been dona as at that time it was felt that such a canal would not be of a great deal of use until a canal between the Manukau and the Waitemata was constructed, making it possible for boats and barges to run right through from the Waikato ta the Auckland whams. Since assuming office hs had appointed one of the Government engineers to collect data as to the cost of deepening the Waikato river and draining the adjacent swamp from Mercer southward. He, however, regretted to say that the result ot the engineer's inquiries ao far a 9 they had already gone had proved somewhat disappointing, there not being sufficient fall between Mercer ar.d the sea to enable the river to be deepened sufficiently. As to the waterways coming into competition with the railways he did not think that should ba considered. The development of the waterways should have the effect of producing more business both for the railways and the canals. The question of competition need not bs taken into account at fII. "I do net think that the request for a Koyal Commission is an unreadable or.e," added Mr Ma-sey. "It, however, is a matter for Cabinet more than for an individual Minister, but I will promise you that your request will be placed before Cabinet with my recommendation that it te granted. I have not th2 slightest doubt that it will be eiven effect to. If the commission is appointed you may take it from me that it will be a commission of experts who will understand the subject thoroughly, and be able to report exhaustively upon the merits of the scheme. That is all I can say at present, f our request will go to Cabinet, and it will go with my recommendation."

That, is precisely the reply we expected Mr Massey to make and we, like the Prima Minister, have not the slightest doubt that the Commission will be appointed. The enquiry will undoubtedly provj of great value in the future, and in what has been done a practical step forward has been taken towards the fuller utilisation of the waterways of this province.