HAURAKI ROADS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 20, 14 April 1927, Page 10

HAURAKI ROADS

SETTLERS' HANDICAPPED MINISTERS’ INSPECTION ASSISTANCE PROMISED (THE SUN'S Special Representative) NGATEA, Wednesday. A shoal of requests was submitted to the Hon. A. D. McLeod and the Hon. K. S. Williams when they continued their tour of the Hauraki Plains to-day. After visiting the Orongo soldiers’ settlement, the party went on to Waitakaruru, where deputations asked for the improvement of the Waitakaruru Canal, metalling of the main road from Waitakaruru to Pokeno, and improvement of the roads in the Aliranda district. The Alinisters promised to do what they could, particularly for the settlers who had no access to their holdings. During the afternoon the party inspected land in the vicinity of Ngatea, where some of the finest country in the Hauraki Plains is situated. Deputations were heard at Ngatea and Kerepeehi this evening. Hauraki Plains roading problems were put before the Alinisters to-night by Air. E. L. Walton, chairman of the Plains County Council, who drew attention to the manner in which the dairying industry was handicapped by clay roads. A subsidy of £2 for £ 1 for metalling these roads was the only solution of the difficulties of the Hauraki settlers. Replying, Air. AlcLeod said Air. Walton had done a useful work in getting rid of the antagonism formerly existing between the Hauraki settlers and the Government. The funds originally available for work in the Hauraki land drainage district had long since been used up. The only other recourse was the Public Works Fund of the Dominion. He realised just as well as they did that the roads were far from completed to the standard required by the dairying industry. Accordingly, he would do his utmost to help them.

The Hon. K. S. Williams said that Hauraki development was not only in the interests of the particular district concerned, but also in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. The importance of roading corresponded to the importance of draining. He would co-operate with the Minister of Lands in helping as far as possible. The amount of subsidy wpuld depend on what the Alinister of Finance could provide.