HON. THOS. MACKENZIE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 265, 30 March 1911, Page 8

HON. THOS. MACKENZIE.

VISIT TO NEW PLYMOUTH. | The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Industries ami Commerce, and Minister in charge of, Tourist and Health Resorts, arrived n>' New Plymouth by the mail train last evening from Wellington. During his' visit he will stay at the White Hart hotel. _ | ' He is accompanied by Miss Mackenzie and his private secretary (Mr. L. E.' Johnson). This is the first occasion on which the Hon. T. Mackenzie has visited' New Plymouth as a Minister of the Crown, and he was cordially welcomed by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. 1 Tisch) last night, who assured him that he would do all he could to make his trip enjoyable and pleasant. MOKAU RIVER SCENERY. A deputation consisting of Messrs. E.' I Griffiths (chairman of the Chamber! of Commerce), W. A. Collis (chairman of the Scenery Preservation Society), C. W. fiovett, W. Ambury, N. King,' S. W. Shaw, H. Bedford, W. J. Penn,j W. U. Skinner, N. K. MacDiarmid, GJ Tisch, and E. Dockrill, members of those bodies, accompanied by Messrs. Okey and Jennings, M.'sP., waited on the Hon. T. Mackenzie, as Minister in charge of the Tourist Department in connection with taking steps to havu the magnificent scenery on the Mokau river conserved for scenic purposes. I 'Mr: Okey, M.P. for Taranaki. introduced the deputation. ) The Minister asked whether the river was not in Mr. Jennings' electorate. This being so, he desired the latter gentleman to state the case. ] Mr. Jennings stated that he was very pleased to bring before the Minister this question of the preservation of the scenery on the Mokau river. The machinery was provided by an Act he was instrumental in putting through the House in 1904, an known as the Mokau River Trust Board. This Act was practically on the same lines as the Wanganui River Trust, and had the same powers in regard to snagging the river and preserving as far as they could the bush scenery along its banks. He would strongly urge that the quickest steps possible should be taken to preserve this magnificent bush, now that new landlords had come on the scene. If not some beautiful bush, particularly on the upper reaches, would be destroyed. He had travelled all over New Zealand, and even including the famed Wanganui, there was nothing to be compared to the Mokau. This \va3 borne out by the report of Mr. Cowem, of the Tourist Department, who spent with himself a. week in the upper reaches. He extended to the Minister a cordial welcome to visit the Mokau district, and see its beauties for himself. Mr. Griffiths stated that Mr. Jennings had put the matter clearly. The people of New Plymouth looked on this rivet as one of its attractions. As the access to it became easier, it would be visited by numbers of people. Even now, many parties went up the rivei annually; As the land on both sides ol the river was in the hands of new was feared some steps nrighl be tafeii by which the bush would be annihilated. He mentioned that th< Scenery Preservation Commission report ed favorably on its acquisition as a scenery resemre. In reply to Mr. Mackenzie, he saidi hi was not aware if any steps had beer taken to give effect to that, nor did ht know if any surveys had been made al the time. Mr. Penn stated that all the plans were in the hands of the Department. Mr. Jennings started that the powers of the Trust Board were limited, and in any case, their boundary was twe miles above the coal mines, making t total ol 24 miles, whereas they required to go at least another 12 miles. The Minister asked, "Would it b< possible to take the land under the Acl of last session ?" Mr. Collis stated that the question a preserving this scenery had been dis cussed many years prior to the Govern ment Commission. There was no ques tion at all of the advisability of pro curing this piece of land for scenic pur poses. He had a book of views witl him. The Minister, however, was familiar with them. Mr. Tisch apologised ,for the lateness ; of the deputation, and heartily wel corned the Minister to New Plymouth ■ He could not emphasise too much thi asset this was not only to Taranak but to New Zealand. It would be r.oth ing short of vandalism to allow sucl ; bush to be cut down. They had in stances of this nearer home. Mr. Govett stated that fifteen years ago tho Mokau Coal Company was" will ing to give a considerable portion o: laud for scenery preservation purposes at no cost, if the Government woulc enable them to do so. ! 'Mr. Okey said the deputation was ur gent in the matter, because while th< land wns held in a large block it wai not interfered with. Now it might be cut up, and, perhaps bush felled nexl season. Mr. Pemi said the felling of the bust on the river bank not only spoilt th< scenery, but hindered navigation. The Hon. T. Mackenzie thanked his Worship the Mayor and others for theii welcome. It gave him great pleasure in coming to New Plymouth, a district teeming with historic associations. It was a portion of the Dominion that all took an interest in. He thanked the Mayor for intimating that he would make his trip as pleasant as possible. He was one in spirit with them in ifche pre- ■ scrvation of natural scenery and had • listened with pleasure to the remarks of the speakers. He promised to make enquiries at once, and see what could be done in the matter with the new proprietors. It, however, took time to secure the land. He was pleased to see the interest taken in the matter here, because in the House last session he could only get a majority of four, after a strenuous fight, when he brought down his Bill for the preservation°of scenery on the Wanganui river. He would do all he could to give effect to their wishes. It might be difficult to at once enter into negotiations with the owners, as the Government's means were limited, but he hoped the owners would meet them in the same spirit as they would lie met, so that they might preserve the natural scenery in this great' highway. , i

The deputation thanked the Minister ; and withdrew. i TO-DAY'S MOVEMENTS. The Hon. T. Mackenzie will be en gaged all the morning on departmental business. ! ' In the afternoon he will be present at the luncheon that is to be tendered to the pioneers and veterans at Moturoa, and will also take part in the unveiling of the obelisk that has been erected to commemorate the spot on which the! first pioneers landed here on March 31,1 1841. In fact, it is owing to an invitation received from the committee in charge of this function that the Minister is at present in New Plymouth. | i At the conclusion of this ceremony, a visit will be paid to the Taranaki Petroleum Company's works at Moturoa. , Later in the afternoon a visit will be paid to Pukekura Park. ' This evening the Minister will attend the annual re-union of Taranaki veterans. i ■ I TO-MORROW'S MOVEMENTS. I To-morrow the Ministerial party are jto be taken to the New Plymouth, j Mountain House by the Mountain House, Committee. The party will leave here by motor-cars at 8 a.m., arriving at the House about 9.30 a.m. Two hours orj so will be spent in its environs, inspecting the proposed sites of the new hotel that is to be erected, and after a light luncheon at about 11.30 a.m., a start ■ will be made for Stratford, which, it is ' hoped, will be reached about 1 p.m. I The Minister will be motored to the Stratford Mountain House. PROPOSED VISIT TO MOKAU. ,' The Hon. T. Mackenzie will endeavor to accept Mr. Jennings' invitation to visit the Mokau district within a few days, and witness for himself the scenery of the river. He will have some difficulty in arranging to spare the' I time necessary for the trip, as his en- 1 j gagements ahead and work are consider-' 1 able. I