MINISTER OF HEALTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 303, 14 March 1928, Page 16

MINISTER OF HEALTH

VISIT TO KAIKOHE DEPUTATIONS’ REQUESTS (From Our Own Correspondent.) KAIKOHE. Tuesday. The Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, accompanied by Mr. Allen Bell, M.P., arrived from Rawene on Saturday and were met by the Town Board and welcomed by the chairman, Mr. T. Guerin. The Minister in reply stated that it was ten years since he was through the district, and he noted with pleasure the improvements made by the settlers. He noticed the large areas of Maori lands which were still unproductive, but hoped this unproductive stage would soon be a thing of the past, when the lands were brought under the operation of the Native Consolidation Act. The chairman of the Town Board said that the board should have representation on the Bay of Islands Hospital Board, stating that the county councillors acted in a dual capacity. The townspeople were disenfranchised through having no representation on the county council, owing to their board having full administrative control over their own area. The Minister said that they should have representation, but it would require an alteration in the Act. The present system of councillors acting on hospital boards was found to be very economical.. He promised to go into the subject when he returned to Wellington and advise them of the legal position. A deputation of soldier settlers from the Remuera Estate waited on the Minister regarding the completion of the Omapere section of the main highway. Mr. A. Bell, M.P., introducing the deputation, said that last year £SOO had been spent on the road. There was a main highway allocation of £ 2,000 for the road, so that £1,500 was still available. Mr. Dibble said that the Omapere section of the No. 1 Main Highway not only formed a portion of the highway, but also acted as a subdivisional road for the Remuera and Te Pua settlements. Its early completion was essential, as practically all those present during winter could not get a wheeled vehicle to their sections. sfr. Kerry stated that the only access he had was a track made by himself. He was carting his stores 14 miles, whereas if the road were formed the distance would be four miles. When taking up the land six years ago, they were promised access within three months. Mr. Milne said there was no school on the settlement, and the completion of the road would bring some of the children much nearer a public school. The Minister promised to place the deputation’s representations before the Minister of Public Works. The same deputation brought forward the question of postponed arrears of interest and rents oil soldier settler sections. Mr. Dibble said that in the last few weeks two more settlers had walked off their sections on the Remuera Settlement. Out of 28 settlers placed on the Remuera Settlement 14 had walked off. These sections would have been taken up by other settlers, but the stumbling block was the arrears of interest and rent due prior to 1923. New settlers did not care to take over the sections so loaded, as these arrears hung like a big stick over their heads. He asked that tlie Minister in charge should make a plain statement in regard to the intention of the Government in enforcing the payment of the postponed rent and interest arrears. The Minister in reply said lie did not think they should meet trouble half way. They must realise that

in the Crown they had the best of landlords. With regard to the ten years’ postponement of interest and rent, and not being able to meet these when due, whatever the circumstances might be, and whatever Government was in power, when the time came every case would no doubt be judged on its merits, and the soldier settler would get a fair run. He would, however, pass their representations on to the Minister of Lands. He would say to them: “Stick fast to your sections, and do not get downhearted looking too far ahead.” The Ministerial party, accompanied by the chairman of the Kaikohe Town Board, paid a visit of inspection to the Ngawha Springs, about three miles from Kaikohe. One of the native trustees met the party and was interviewed by the Minister, Mr. Guerin acting as interpreter. The Minister suggested that a general board of management should be established, comprising three representatives each from the local bodies and Maoris, with a Government nominee, to raise funds, which would be subsidised by his department, to provide more bathing facilities and to devise a scheme for the improvement of the springs area.