TARANAKI MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI MATTERS.

HAWERA' HIGH SCHOOL, ' THE DISESTABLISHMENT QUESTION? By TelegiJipL—-Sjpecial Corespondent. ■Wellington, Dec. 7. The protest against the proposal to disestablish the Hawera High School .has been kept prominently before the Minister for Education by Messrs Wilkinson (Egmont) and Smith taranaki). So far the members have been unable to obtain a satisfactory reply from the Minister. There is a question on the order paper on the subject in the name of Mr. fPearca (Pateaj, but no answer has been given. During the discussion on the estimates, Mr. Wilkinson raised the question and demanded an answer from the Minister, but the chairman replied that the question could not be discussed, since there was a question referring to it -on the order paper. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. Speaking in the House, Mr. Wilkinson (Egmont) said he wished to bring under the notice of the Minister for Public Works the question of the Opunake railway. The report that had been furnished showed that work on the line had been. totally discontinued. He .agreed with that under war conditions, ■but he considered that the Minister should be making progress with some of the bridge work on the line. The first bridge was the key to the whole situation, and unless the bridge was completed it would not be possible to lay the rails on the formation already made. Mr. Wilkinson added that lie was somewhat disappointed at finding that the balance of the line had not been authorised this session. STRATFORD-MAIN TRUNK LINE. The completion of the Main Trunk line connecting Auckland with Taranaki ought to receive the careful consideration of the Government. A good deal had been done, but a great deal remained to be done, and lie hoped the Minister would impress the Cabinet with tho fact that this line was one of. the most important public works In the' Dominion. TOLL GATES IN TARANAKI. A question relating to toll gates in Taranaki was raised in the House this afternoon by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont, who drew the attention of the Minister for Public Works to the fact that the Taranaki County Council was proposing to place a toll gate on the main road between New Plymouth and Stratford, and that the ratepayers were protesting. Sir William Eraser replied that ho Would allow a toll gate to established in any case until he had had a full inquiry made by a commission, and had satisfied himself that the gate would be of benefit to the district. The gate new proposed would not be. authorised uutil a oemmission had made full inquiry, and until ho was satisfied that some public good would result.