MINISTERS IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 287, 3 April 1913, Page 5

MINISTERS IN TARANAKI

ADDRESS BY MB! MASSEY. LAND SETTLEMENT POLICY. THE 01TNAKE RAILWAY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Eltham, April 2. Messrs. Massey and Fraser, who are on a visit to Eltham and district, arrived by the mail train last evening and later received deputations. Subsequently they received a hearty public reception at a social and dance. The Hon. W. F. Massey declared it gave them great pleasure to be there. They were there to see the country and the proposed Opunake railway route, and after that' they would be in a much better position to express an opinion than they were then. As far as the importance of'the line was concerned, that went without saying; he realised that when it was authorised last session. He was pleased to hear the very reasonable arguments of the speakers, and hoped there would be no dissension as to the route. He was quite willing to admit that a very great deal might be said in favour of the reserved route; they were going to see it and then it would be for Mr. Fraser to recommend it to his colleagues. He was quite satisfied that the line would pav from the day on which it was opened. (Hear, hear)". Mr. Wilkinson said that the line should be constructed at the earliest possible moment, but they must remember that Mr. Fraser was not only Minister of Public Works, but at present Minister of Finance. However, he might say that the line would be constructed as soon as the finances of the country would permit. The Hon. W. Eraser also returned thanks for their welcome. He was very pleased to be able to visit the district to be traversed by this railway. It was exactly 40 years since his last visit, and he expected to sec a great change. Tlicv had . A MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY in the west which was going to be the Devonshire of New Zealand. He. as Mr. Massey had said, believed that the line could not fail to pay. but he was not going for a moment to pretend to say which route it should take. They had come to acquire'information and were going to see the proposed route for themselves. There were linancial difficulties—at Home, not in New Zealand, the latter had never been more prosperous than at present. But the difficulty they were faced with was that if this country was to continue to prosper'as it should thev would have to continue borrowing to build bridges, roads, railways, etc. And What they had to do was to induce the money-lender at Home to let them have the necessary money. However, with the passing away of the Balkan war, money would bo easier. He hoped no one was under the impression, as he had heard'in his travels in the North, that now Mr. Allen had floated his loan they would have plenty of money for everything; for every penny of that was pledged. The money for this railway would have to be obtained later on. No one would be more pleased than he if they could put a good round sum on the estimates next year to have the line carried out. It had his entire sympathy, and when they procured the money it would be started as soon as possible.

Mr. J. Marx said they all understood that "bricks could not be made without "straw" and they thanked the Ministers for their assurance that it would be started as soon as possible.

MAORI LEASES. . "TARANAKI WILL NOT 'BE FORGOTTEN." Subsequently Mr. Massey, in reply to Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., with regard to the Opunake railway, native leases, and lands for settlement said he would do his best in the interests of all. When the Government authorised the Opunake line they showed that they believed in the proposal, and were disposed to support it, and they would go further when the opportunity offered, or as soon as finances'wouid permit. He had not fully mastered the question of the native leases in Taranaki, but if the Government were approached in the proper spirit they would be able to solve the difficulty, and lie believed they would do it next session. Land settlement was a vital question, and in connection with this Taranaki had not been forgotten by the present Government. They must increase their producers wherever possible, nnd wherever there was land available for settlement they must endeavor to do so. They would advertise certain railroad construction in the Taranaki district in the next few days. Also several tracts of land in Taranaki, amounting to about !H).000 acres, tliev hoped to open up shortly. They would therefore agree with him tha't" Taranaki was not forgotten by the present Government. (Applause). He had mentioned these matters because they would be of interest to the people generally.

COUNTRY DEPUTATIONS. Elthani, Last Night. Messrs. Massny and Fraser, accompanied by Messrs. G. A. Wilkinson and G. V. Pearee, M.P.'s, motored this momisg as far as Omoana and met several deputations who made a request for the opening up of forest reserves, as well as for telephones and increased mail services.

The Ministers expressed pleasure at meeting the representatives of the backblocks districts, and also expressed sympathy with thp requests, and promised favourable consideration as far as funds would permit when allocations were baing mi-.de.

The party returned to Eltham in the afternoon and visited the Box, Bacon and Cheese Factories, They afterwards attended a garden party—Mr. Wilkinson's, when a large number were present, and later the Ministers proceeded to Stratford, where they will be ban-, quetted during the evening.

VISIT TO STRATFORD. (By Telegraph—Resident Agent.) Stratford, Last Night. To-night the members motored- into Stratford from Eltham and nvwe entertained at a banquet by the citizens of Stratford. There were about TOO present, including Messrs. H. Okey, ,T. B. TTine, G X. Pearee. and C. A. Wilkinson, M.P.'s. The Mayor (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood) presided. The proceedings were a trifle late in starting owing to the Prime Minister having been detained until close upon 8 o'clock by local deputations. Apologies were received from the lions. 0. Samuel and T. Kelly, and Messrs. T ;R. Anderson, Newton King, and A. W. Budge. The toasts honored in addition to the usual loyal ones were:—Parliament of New Zealand, Dairying and Farming Industries, Local Bodies, and Our Guests. A full report of the banquet will appear in our issue of to-morrow. AN INTERESTING ANNOUNCEMENT. The banquet finished just about mid- ' night, and the Prime Minister, in the course of his remarks, said that the Govi eminent would recommend to the Imperial Government and to the Governor, who controlled the movements of the [ bittle-diin New Zealand, that the ship should visit New Plymouth. e

VISIT TO INGLEWOOD. > Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., has received the following telegram from Mr. Massey:— "Thanks for jour telegram re luncheon at Inglewoo'd. I have accepted the Mayor's invitation. This will mean that we must get to litglewood not later than Qne o'clock, in ortler to enable me to catch the 2.10 train south to Hawera. If we make an earlv start from New Plymouth, we should'be able to do this easily."