BACK COUNTRY NEEDS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 189, 19 April 1915, Page 3

BACK COUNTRY NEEDS.

During his visit to Wellington, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P. for Taumarunni, has brought a number -.of matters of public interest, before the Prime Minister, and the- Ministers for Finance and Public -Works. To Mr., ittuSpey r -M' Minister for Labour, he presented e largely signed petition of employees otrpablie works asking for an increase of, wages owing -to the increased cost of living in the district. Mr Jennings, In support of the petition, pointed out that settles and wjorkem in the outlying districts were paying at the rate of £22 per ton for flour, and other commodities, were proportionately high. Jennings introduced a deputation from the Ohara district; consisting Of Mr. Lyon >(chairnmn of the Ohara County Council), Mr. Eomayne (a member of the Council), and Mr. Risk (ex-member) to the Hon. Jas. Allen and Hon. Mr, Fraser, in connection with loan and road matters. The deputation placed before Ministers the requirements of the Waitewhinia, Mo-kau-MohaJEatino, Matiere - Mirohinao, Waikaka^... and. t roads. Both Ministers were sympathetic, to the requests, made by the speakers. Mr. Jennings also brought under the notice, of . the Hon, Mr. Fraser the unsatisfactory position of the work at the Okahukura tunnel, and said all the requests of the deputation would be retarded if the delay ia construction of the tunnel continued'.’ ' He also claimed consideration for the Pomerongi and Mangapohua roads, in “"South -Kawhia where the settlers had ho outlet for their produce though they had been 10 years on their sections. The Minister said that so far as the tunnel was concerned the department had called on the sureties to carry out the work, and the roads in South Kawhia would receive further consideration when the estimates were prepared.