MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1922, Page 6

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

VISIT TO SOUTH TARANAKI. HAWERA TO OPUNAKE TRIP. MANY DEPUTATIONS. The Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works and Postmaster-General) visited South Taranaki yesterday and had a very busy day. Accompanied by his private secretary (Mr. T. R. Aickin), Messrs. F. W. Furkett (engineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department), T. Ball (district roads engineer), A. T. Markman (Assistant Secretary 10 the Post Office), and E. Dixon, M.P., he left Wanganui about 8 a.m., arriving at Hawera shortly after 10 a.m. At Hawera the party was joined by Messrs. 0. Hawken, M.P. for Egmont, and J. B. Murdoch (chairman of the

Hawera County Cov'eil). The party then proceeded via l\ormanby, Te Roti and the Skeet Road to Opunake, visiting various sections of the railway, and "meeting en route Messrs. S. Campbell (chairman), C. A. Trotter, R. Ferguson, J. S. Tosland, M. O’Brien (members of the Egmont County Council), G. W. Rogers (clerk), and I. Campbell (overseer). After being entertained at luncheon a number of deputations were received. A visit was then paid to the soldiers’ memorial, the hydro-elec-tric works, and the new hospital. On the way back to Hawera the bridge over the Kaupokonui river was inspected and deputations were met at Manaia. Hawera was reached shortly after 5 p.m., and various deputations were met at the Returned Soldiers’ Club. The party was then entertained at afternoon tea by the president of the Soldiers’ Club, after which a start was made for Wanganui. NORMAN-BY’S REQUIREMENTS. At Normanby a deputation comprising Messrs. J. Forbes (chairman), A. E. McEwen, A. Hurleyman, D. A. Stewart (Town Board), and C. Paine waited on the Postmaster-General and asked that additional postal facilities be given them. At present the post office was attached to the station and with the limited staff there was considerable delay. They pointed out that the Town Board was prepared to give a section of a quarter-acre opposite the station for the purpose of a post office. The assistant secretary pointed out that the revenue did not warrant the establishment of a permanent office. The Minister said the policy of the department was not to go in for pub- , lie buildings at present, but to en- 1 deavor to carry on with the present | buildings until the business outgrew them, when they would build in such a way as to meet the requirements for

several years ahead. He did not think the business at Normanby warranted building a separate office at the present time, but he promised to look into the matter and see what could be done in the direction of effecting some improvement in the meantime. OPUNAKE MA. TERS. The principal deputation at Opunake was in regard to the railway (reported elsewhere). Other matters brought up were in connection with the Okahu and Wiremu roads. A strong deputation from the Kahui Road, headed by Messrs. T. Willcox, S. Willoughby, H. Annis, W. Fleming, and Byrne, asked that the Egmont County Council should be given authority to expend the grant of £4Ol available on the estimates for the Okahu (Ngariki-Newall Road). Mr. Willcox, who acted as spokesman, pointed out that the opening of this road would link up the by-roads at the top end. and so save settlers considerable time, and also save wear and tear to the roads. At present the only link between the by-roads was the main road, and settlers had often to journey

18 or 20 miles when three or foul would suffice if the Okahu Road were opened. He considered the road should have been put through several years ago. The district had made wonderful progress. He showed that the settler-; had not waited to be ‘Spoon fed by the Government,” but had taken advantage of the advances to local bodies, and had so forced progress. The opening of the road would, he pointed out, mean a great deal to the county council, as it would cut down the maintenance on the present roads considerably. Moreover, if the road were put through it Ayouia enable the children on the adjoining road to take advantage of the school on the Kahui Road. The Minister pointed out that it was the policy of the Government to pass on the expenditure of grants to local bodies, except in cases where it was probable grants would be required for relief works. Mr. S. Willoughby estimated that it would cost £5OOO to put through the live miles of road, not including bridges. The chief object of the visit was to get authority for the county council to expend the £4Ol. and also to induce the Government to give other grants so as to finish the road. He thought the settlers were prepared to put their hands in their pockets to metal the road. At present a lot of country was unproductive, owing to the settlers having no outlet. He thought about sixty settlers were affected.

Cr. O’Brien also touched on the need for further work being done on the Ohara-Arawhata Road section of the Wiremu Road. Here the Government had expended £l9OO, but the need for a bridge over the Heimama and improvement at a place known as “the canal.” where a cutting had been made and was now full of water, rendered the whole expenditure useless. He thought the Heimama could be piped at a moderate expenditure, and “the canal” could be done for about £lOO. If this were done it would place that district within two or three miles of a sawmill instead of about 18 miles away, as at present. Cr. Tosland said that owing to the neglect in providing loading facilities over 20,000 acres of good land had been locked up for over 40 years. There were only 10 settlers on it. If the road were opened up several settlers were ready to go on the land and the dairy factories would erect creameries. Moreover, a tremendous quantity of firewood would be available to feed the railway Public money could not be better spent than in opening up these roads. Cr. O’Brien stated that at the last meeting of the Egmont County Council application had been made for a grant of S4W, Tkia wauld provide a «atU«

track, and would be sufficient for the present. The Minister stated that he would get Mr. Furkett to look into both requests and would communicate his reply through Mr. Hawken, the member for the district. MANAIA QUESTIONS. Deputations were received from the Waimate County Council and the Manaia. Town Board. Mr. McPhillips, chairman of the Waimate County Council, asked for a grant towards the erection of the bridge over the Kaupokonui. on the main road. He pointed out that the council would have to face the re-erection of this next year. He touched on the splendid main roads the county had laid down, and, as showing its self-reliant policy, he remarked that during the years of its life it had only had £lobo from the Government by > way of grants. The good roads had cost a considerable amount to lay down, as was shown by the fact that the set- : tiers were rated up to 7s and 9s per - acre. He asked the Minister for a straight-out grant of £lOOO towards . the cost of the bridge, estimated at

■ £4OOO to £5OOO, but asked that it should not have the restriction that 1 the bridge must be strong enough to * carry Mt. Egmont. 1 The Minister said that when. Government money went into any bridge a ! standard was laid down, and rightly I so. The Government engineer had to ’ be satisfied that the bridge would carry j the weight. He promised to go into j the matter and consider it when the ; estimates were being framed. Mr. J. J. Meldon and members of the Town Board waited on the Minister in connection with the railway and also in connection with freight on pipes. They . also pointed out that the delay in installing telephones was detrimental to the district, instancing the case where six settlers had applied for a party line :in 1914 and had not got it yet. They 1 also asked that the post office should :be painted. I The Minister said he would look into I the matter of the delay in the tele- • phones. Had they drawn their mem- ' ber’s attention to this it would probi ably have been rectified long ago. It 1 was the policy of the department to : give preference to country settlers. The department was endeavoring to overtake the leeway, and during two years had created two records. A few years ago it was thought a big thing to expend £150,000 or £200,000 in a year, j but last year they had spent over half , a million, and this year it would be I over £OOO,OOO. They had also installed 8060 telephones, whereas they used to think 3000 or 4000 a good year’s work. He also promised to place the question of painting the post office before the officers concerned. AT HAWERA. i At Hawera, Mr. E. Dixon, M.P. (Mayor of Hawera) introduced the deputations and welcomed the Minister to Hawera.

Mr. J. B. Murdoch (president of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce) asked that work should be started on the new Hawera station, which had been promised for some years. He consid- ’ ered the present time was an oppor- ; tune one, as there were a number of i unemployed with homes in Hawera who j could not go “out back” to work, but '■ who would be willing to work if relief works were started at the new station. He also asked that the building of the police station on the new site should be expedited and that the present police station should be shifted from i its present site, which was required for other purposes. Mr. Paterson (president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association) stated that the people of the district had raised a large sum for the erection of the Soldiers’ Club and a memorial arch, and were anxious to see the scheme completed. It could not be completed until the present police station was removed. Mr. Duffill showed the plans-of the completed design, which included municipal buildings and a Town Hall on the site, as well as the handsome memorial arch.

The Minister replied that the departmental officers had reported that the building was not suitable for removal to the new site, and authority had been given to advertise it for sale for removal. Instructions had also been issued to prepare plans for the new police station. Regarding starting work at the new railway station, he pointed 1 out that that was under the jurisdie--1 tion of the Railway Department, and he promised to place their representations before the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, acting-Minister for Railways. | PLIGHT OF OMONA SETTLERS. I Messrs. Nairn and Robertson, settlers in the Omona district, asxea for assistance in restoring the road communication, which had been cut off by flood. Mr. Nairn said that five miles • of the W henuakura Valley was blockj ed, and they could hardly get through Iby walking. All their goods had to be i carried in, and recently it took two days to carry in a bag of sugar. A year ago, he said, there were six married men and their wives in the district, and now there was only one woman there. If the settlers did not get assistance they must leave their holdings. Mr. Nairn said that he had been in the district sixteen years, and was beginning to get the worst problem solved when the recent trouble came. He admitted that £2OOO had , been expended on the Rawhitiroa Road,

! but pointed out that there were seven miles yet to do to give them relief. They were in the Hawera county, but had their access through Eltham. The Minister asked whether some of the more wealthy ridings were not prepared to assist. Omona was rated 2%d and the more wealthy ridings lid. It was, he added, difficult to find money except in exceptional circumstances. It was admitted this was an exceptional case. Mr. Hawken, M.P., thought the Eltham County Council could not be expected to do more. It had taken over the riding’s antecedent liability of I £lOOO and maintained the main road ' right up to the bridge. The riding’s ! revenue was £lOOO, and tnere was no i doubt the riding was up against it. I After further discussion the Minister ! stated that he would consult the engineers on the matter, and later made ! the announcement that £5OO would be I granted.

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