THE PREMIER AT ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1919, Page 4

THE PREMIER AT ELTHAM.

A TALK TO SCHOOL CHILDREN. (By Our Special Reporter.) Eltham, Lust .Night. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. P. Massey, ispent a busy clay in Klthain to-day. After breakfast, Mr. Massey, accompanied by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson and the local education authorities, visited the public school, where he was received by the headmaster, Mr. Thomas. Mr. Massey visited each class-room, and saw the children at work, being especially interested in an open-air class which was held in the grounds. The party then adjoum,ed to the sehcool baths, where the scholars were assembled, and were addressed by the Premier. Patriotism formed the basis of Mr. Maaaey's remarks. He referred at length to the war and the part which New Zealand had played, nnd he touched on the fact that many old boya of the Elthain School had played a prominent part in the war. Ho impressed upon his young hearers the value of history, and said he hoped that in future even more jiistory would be taught in the schools. The British Empire had a wonderful history, of which it should be proud, and though he hoped and believed that the children of to-day would never have to facce a war such as that just passed, he felt sure that if the occasion arose they would cheerfully respond to the call. Mr. Massey concluded by declaring the baths open for the season, and asked the headmaster to grant the children a holiday for the remainder of the day. CIVIC WELCOME. The party then proceeded to the Borough Council Chambers, where Mr. R. W. Tayler (the Mayor) extended a welcome to Mr. Massey. There were present representatives from all the leading public bodies in Taranaki, and prominent citizens of Eltham. Mr. Massey, in acknowledging the compliment, said that it was eight years since he had visited Eltham, and he was impressed with the striking progress which the town had made in the interval. The progress of Tarnnaki was wonderful, and he had been immensely struck by u. There was a time when he had been able to see a great deal of Taranaki, but latterly the calls on his time had been very great. He referred to the fact that the war had necessitated his making three trips around the world, and he dealt at some length with the importance of those missions, and the great value that they had been to him. DEPUTATIONS. METAL FOR, ROADS WANTED. The first deputation related to the supply of metal from the Mount Egmont quarry on the Waipuku Mountain railway. The deputation was a large one, benig composed of representatives of the leading public bodies in Taranaki. Mr. C. J. Belcher, chairman of the Associated Local Bodies of Taranaki, spoke on behalf of the deputation. He said he did not know why the Waipuku railway towards the mountain was stopped where it was, because the metal was not there, but further on. If the railway was taken further on a good supply of a good class of metal would be obtained. At small expense the line could be taken to this place. Mr. A. L. Campbell (Eltham County Council) said the formation of the railway was made practically right up to the mountain, but the rails were not laid. He was satisfied good metal was there. 'There was a face of metal from 100 to 200 feet high. Metal was urgently needed throughout Taranaki at present, and he appealed to the Government to open this source of supply. Mr. R. H. Cameron (Stratford County Council) traced the history of the quest for metal on this line. The line was handed over to the Railway Department, which was only concerned with obtaining metal for railways, and did not cater for local bodies. It was desired that the Government shuold complete the line up to the pit where metal was available, and make the stone available to local bodies. Mr. Cameron said*the stone was.preferable to any other in the district, especially for making tar macadam roads. It svas almost beyond the means of the local bodies to take the stone out of. the rivers themselves, and he appealed for Government assistance in the matter.

Mr. J. W. Spence (the Stratford County engineer) supported the request. He paid there was practically an inexhaustible supply of stone at this quarry. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.i'., said the present line was controlled by the Railway Department, whose policy was only to get ballast for their railways. Taranaki local bodies were going" to near Wellington for metal, while they had a splendid supply in their own district, but could not get at it. An arrangement should be made by which the Railway Department should supply metal to local bodies. Mr. Massey said he felt it was a great pity that this line of railway and the plant there for obtaining metal had to be idle. The carriage of metal was not profitable to the Railway Department, and he was sure the Department would prefer to allow metal to come from the mountain quarry than to carry it from nearer Wellington to Taranaui. There was also a shortage of rolling stock on the railways, and this intensified the position. Mr Massey promised that he would go into the whole of the proposals with the General Manager of Railways. THE ELTHAM RACING CLUB. Mr. Taylor, as President of the Eitham Racing Club„ asked the Premier if lie could see his way to grant a totalisator permit for the Club. Before the reduction of permits the Club had held on* but had lost it through no fault of its own. The Club had always been successtill, and was financially strong. The Club, was now prepared to spend from £l'>ooo to C1:>,000 in equipping a thoroughly up. o-dnte racecourse within a mile and ahali of Eitham, but it required a permit. Mr. Tayler said he believed there was a spare permit circulating about somewhere. Mr. Massey: It has just gone Mr. Tayler: Well, we should have got it, because we were the first in the held. Ihero should be more permits used and circulated in the country Mr. Massey: The permit you refer to «e« to the South Island, where it origmally belonged. Mr Wilkinson, in supporting the request said that Taranaki with a bi«£r population than Hawke's Bay, had otr een permits, while Hawke's Bay h d twenty-eight. y Mr. Massey said the issue of permits we. a matter for the Baring Confer nee Apuhcations for further £»*."»£

coming in fron all over New Zealand, but whether they would be granted or not he could not say. The granting ol permits was a ticklish question, for when the matter came before Parliament) there was always strong opposition to it. Until the law was altered ho was afraid there was no chance of further permits beii:g granted. HOUSE AT DAWSON'S FALLS. Mr Wilkinson and Mr. Tayler comprigcd a deputation which asked for Governs ment assistance towards building a suit< able house at Dawson's Falls. It waa pointed out that on the Eltham sidethere was a good track to the Falls, but the house and cottages there were far too small to aceommodato the number of people who were attracted there every; summer. Mr. Massey said there was no prospect of anything being done until next session, but he would be glad to consider the matter then. A BUSY AFTERNOON. After the public deputation, Mr. Mass sey was occupied until lunch-time by sev« eral private interviews. After lunch, the party went to the Salvation Army; Home, where the Premier showed keea interest in all the activities of the instil tution. A display of gymnastioa by tho children was greatly admired. Subsequently Mr. Massey opened a new gym* nitsium at the Home. The next engagement was the garden party arranged by. the Presbyterian Church at Mr. Wilkinson's residence. There was a large gathering, and a short speech was made by, Mr. Massey. In the evening the party left by motor, ear for Hawera.