Ministerial Visit

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 25 April 1914, Page 7

Ministerial Visit

BACK FROM AWAKING.

The Minister of Public Works ajid party left Awakino about 8.30 on Thursday morning and after a fine run through reached 1 Waitara about 1 p.m. After luncheon, a visit was paid to Mr W. Birdling's property, where the North Taranaki 'hounds were meeting. From there a short run took the party back to Urenui, where some deputations were taken, and the Minister was entertained at a banquet,

OTAiiAOA KOAD.

It was intend;d to take the Minister of Public Works as far as the tunnel on the Otaraoa Roao in order to impress on Jiim the necessity of giving a grant to metal this important thoroughfare betwen Tarata aiK Waitara. Other arrangements however, precluded this, to the regret of the Waitara Chamber of Commerce. Messrs Bower (chairman) and Dowsett (Engineer) of the Clifton County Council waited on the Minister, a:nd asked that a grant of £SOO (Should be allocated for formation and metalling on the above road. Tihey pointed out that it was the connecting link between Waitara and the Junction Road, which was a main road ove.T which a large number oi cattle travelled from the Ohura. This, they considered only second in importance to the Mokau Road. The Minister's reply was that he could not grant anything for metalling purposes but would give consideration to a request for £250 for regrading and formation of a mile of the worst part of the road.

THE URUTI DEVIATION.

On arrival at Urenui in the evening, Messrs H. larsen, C. Beancfhainp and J. Hayes waited on the Minister in connection with the Uruti Road deviation. Mr Larsen pointed out that at present settlers had to proceed along an exceedingly narrow and dangerous track along a precipitous papa face. This track ascended to a height of 700 feet. It was proposed to deviate this by putting in a road with about an eight or nine chain tunnel at a lower level. This would save about half the distance, 1% miles. He \pointed out that tihey'had access through Kiore, but this meant 70 miles as against 28 miles direct to Waitara. Thai settlers were prepared to find half trie money it the Government would subsidise this £ for £ They estimated that the cost would be £2OOO. Mr Murray said that the cost would be about £2500. It would cost as much to make the road in the present postiion and the deviation was infinitely better. The Minister -said that he would not make any definite promise but would go as far as to say that in all probability he would be able to place the sum of £1250 oil the Estimates, being £ for £ subsidy on similar amount to be raised by the settlers, whom he advised to take the necessary steps to raise the money and aiso to arrange for the- necessary land for the deviation so as to be prepared to go on with the worn immediately the grant was made. In fact he suggested that as soon as the grant appeared oil the Estimates, t'liey could begin to spend their own proportion, and lie would undertake to give an understanding that any money so spent should be considered,' when the Government grant was available, part and parcel of the amount they were to raise. THE BANQUET.

llie Jlmisrar was awonieu a great reception at rac Imnmiet which was held in the Urenni Hall in the evening. The attendance was large and representative of the district, the backblocks settler and pioneer being strongly in evidence. Th» proceedings throughout were most enthusiastic and .spontaneous, the Miiii:-~cr afterwards characterising it as o?.e oi tlio best receptions he had yet received.

Jlr A. 1!. iiowcr, chairman o£ the Clil'ton l<ormty Council,' presided, and ilr (.!. rra-ser, vice-pre.iidenr, cf the Waitara Chamber of Commerce, occupied tlie vice chair. Among those at the official table were Hie Minister of Public Works, Mr C. iv. Wilson, M.P.. Mr W. F. Jenkins tM.ayor of Wailara), and Mr G. T. Murray (Resident Road Engineer).. Tile hall and tables were beautifully decorated and the choice viands provided by the caterer (Mrs Sutherland, of Waitara) found general favor. After full justice been done to the dinner and the loyal toast had been honored, Mr (1. Fraser proposed the' •'Army and Navy ami Permanent Forces." In "responding, 31r G. 11. Pope considered that a mistake had been made in abolishing the junior cadets from the public cshools. as under that system the hoys were? early taught a soldier's first duty, obedience.

In proposing "The Parliament of New Zealand and Our Guests," the Chairman said that they recognised that the Hon. Minister of Public Works had maiiy calls 011 nis time, and they were pleased 011 that account to see that he had been able to spare time to leave the hignways and come to the by-ways. They hoped that this vi.sit would have the effect of impressing the Minister with the needs or the district, so that its productive potentialities woulu have a lair show. They knew that Parliament was willing to assist with grants as far as possible. They recognised, too, that Mr C. K. Wilson was, and always pressing forward their needs. . 011 rising to reply, the Minister of Public Works was most enthusiastically greeted; indeed, it was two or three moments before the applause had died His address, too, was punctuated by applaiue. After thanking them for their reception, lie briefly referred to the Parliament of New Zealand, of which he had been a member for twenty years continuously as representative of Wakatipu. The' New Zealand Parliament held a hi ell place among the Parliament, of the world. Politics, he considered, were out of place at a gathering like the present, because there might be many present, who did not see eye to eye with line, lie said although members might light in the House, yet in i.ie lobby and Bellamy's they were all good friends, and that

linw it should hj". lie did no* think tiiat "party" could hp done without in politics, because tiie conntrv was full of it. There were always diverse opinions between man and man, and indeed it was from this that progress arose. Still he thought party should be kept within reasonable limits. He reiterated that his reason for coming to the district was because he wished to acquire a knowledge of the country in order to better eavrv oil the functions of lii<s office as Minister i; Public Works, lie had travelled over tne best part of the Dominion ami had nought the by-ways, the backb.ocks, and intended to do so until just befo-e Parliament met. He was pleased til '.t the function that evening was at Uivnui instead of Waitara, because it gave backblock settlers a chance of attending. Waitara recognised mat the progress of the town depended oil the country, lie was not there, he said, to promise them any specilic, sum for ;,ny tiiteeifie road. His functions began after Parliament had decided liow much money cou.d he -given for loads and bridges throughout the Dominion. |i he promised to give the' place* lie visit"d all they wanted, it would he grossly unfair to the places he did :iot'visit.

When all the applications were in and ■ho had become personally acquainted with their needs he would ulloca-te the money where it was required most. He recognised the difficulty that they 'liad labored under for many yean past in not being able to make t'he land as productive as it should be because the means of access were not good, and in some cases were lacking altogether. He sympathised with them and would not only give them sympathy, but would help them as far as lav in his power. Ilia means were limited, but he hoped that the financial difficulties of the past twenty months were now ovor. Roads and bridges, he emphaaisj'l, were the one thing needed to develop the country; and they .were bound toi have them if money could be obtained at Home at reasonable rates. New Zealand was well thougnt of in -financi.il circles at Home, and its debentures were held to be good security. As long is the money was applied to the best interests of the Dominion as a whole, and not spent recklessly, he thought there would be difficult in borrowing. He would not, preach to them "be patient," because he considered that they had exhibited wonderful patience in waiting so long for roads, nine and ten years—(a voice: twenty years) after being told, when tliey took up the land, that the roaas would be put through in a year or two. It was time that some of those promises were fulfilled. Mr. Massey desired to help tluMc who produced the wealth of New Zealand, and all the wealth came from the land. He concluded that he had <* i>| joyed his visit, during which lie Huulj learnt much about the district, its p i-1 tentialities and its needs, and lie to be able, not to satisfy them, but go assist them considerably. \iie assured them that if the result of the ne\-t election left the present party in powtr they would have no need to be dissatisfied with tne results.—(Prolonged ipplause). Mr. C. K. Wilson, M.P., was also enthusiastically greeted. Mr. Fraser's sympathies, he said, were with tlu country settlers, and lie spared no time in visiting the country iind finding out tlie needs of the various districts, so that when funds were available he wouid kaow how to allocate them. He had brought the Minister to the district, and it was for t'liem, of course, to put their needs before him. The smallness of their requests, however, astounded him, and he felt certain their troubles would soon be over. Tlie backblocks m the past had never had justice done. When a settler, was placed on the land it was impossible for him to be successful unless he 'was given access. lie knew numbers of men tvlio, with their wives and children, had worked hard in the backblocks for years and years, and had failed because 'the Government of the day 'had not given them the roaas they were promised. The time had arrived when the settlers should raise their voices and demand a fair share of the expenditure of public money. Mr. C. K; Wilson proposed the toast of "Local Bodies."

In responding, Mr. W. F. Jenkins, Mayor of Waitara, said that the borough was not on this occasion asking the Minister of Public Works for anything, because they recognised that if the town was to continue to prosper the country must 'have roads. Messrs. Iline and Ogle, representing the Waitara Harbor Board, A. M. Bower, Clifton County Council, and K. Body, Awalcino County Council, iilso responded. The latter said in his county settlers had been put on the land without rojd access, and the Council had to make up leeway for the past fifteen years. They, however, intended to face it, ami lie felt certain that if tliey showed th°y were prepared to help themselves, the Government would assist them.

Mr. A. H. Halcombe proposed "T''ie Chamber of Commerce," a very necessary body that helped to unite the various progressive leagues that had been formed to advance the interests of the district, tie referred at length to the injustice and disabilities .the backblocks labored unaer, and he felt assured that when money was available. Mr. Frasp.% Minister of Public Works, would see that Taranaki got justice, tor unless the roads were pushed forward so that pnduce could bo placed on the market at a fair price the country must go back. Mr. G. „rasej', who responded, ofcrred at length to we fonnation of tiv Chamber of Commerce, ami the aims i.ti objects of its existence.

Other toasts were: "The Prosperity of the District," proposed oy Mr. C. .v. Wilson, M.l'., and responded to by Messrs G. E. Gaustad, Greenwood, IT.' Larsen and J. Ratteiiburv, all of whom stressed the fact of the prosperity of the district being bound up with • .e conditio,n of its roads. "The Ladies," proposed by Mr. Isrookman, and responded to by Mr. Darke; "The Press," proposed by' Mr. ilutler and responded to by the representatives of the Waitara Mail, Taranaki Herald and Daily News; and "The Chairman," proposed by the Hon. Mr. Eraser, -who expressed his appreciation of the courtesy and kindness displayed by the Chairman 10 him, and also for the vast amount of information he had imparted to him during the visit. During the evening an exccllnct programme of song and recitation was submitted, Messrs. Stewart, G. 11. Pope, Buchlcr, K. Body, A. .... Bower and C. K. Wilson contributing. Mr. Stewart presided at the piano. The gathering concluded with the singing of "Aula Lang Syne."