NEED FOR ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1922, Page 3

NEED FOR ROADS.

OPENING UP BACKBLOCKS. THE WANTS OF TARANAKI. . SETTLERS CRYING FOR OUTLETS. POSITION PUT TO PREMIER. (By Wire —Special Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. A representative Taranaki deputation interviewed the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) this morning with reference to road and railway requirements of the northern part of 'the province. The deputation was introduced by Mr. W. T. Jennings, [M.P.. and was accompanied by other Taranaki members. The delegates represented the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, the Waitara, Te Kuiti. Strat’ ford, Eltham and- Kaponga Chambers of Commerce, the Awakino and the Tahora Settlers’ Associations, and the Ohura Railway League. Mr. Jennings explained to the Ministers that the deputation represented the whole of the Taranaki province. The Public Works Department had helped the Stettlers a great deal by completing the metalling of the Mt. Messenger road and opening the railway line from Okahukura to Matiere, but the province had other pressing requirements, and he hoped the Government would be able to give very sympathetic consideration to its needs. MOUNT MESSENGER ROAD. Mr. A. Duncan (Awakino) said that when the present Minister for Public Works took office about three years ago the road over Mt. Messenger was almost impassable for nine months in the year. Since then the grades had been reduced and the whole road on the Taranaki side gravelled; also over a mile on the other side. This was a very good performance. There was difficulty about getting stone, but the department had enough metal now to do two and a half miles, which would complete the northern side of Mt. Messenger and take in a portion of the flat country. Beyond that there was a distance of twenty miles to Awakino.

Mr. Massey: I have been over that road. Mr. Duncan explained the requirements of the district on the lower valley road. A steam shovel in three years had done about 24 miles of road, and he thought that it would be in the interests of the Government if the shovel were taken off and about twelve additional navvies put on. The work would then proceed faster and cost less. The shovel would do good work in another situation, but it was blocked by the stumps. Mr. Coates: We are quite prepared to take it off if you don’t want it, but I won’t promise to put men back. Mr. Duncan said that beyond the shovel there was a stretch of 2% miles with no men on it. Beyond that again there were some men. but a very great deal was required to he done to connect with the Te Kuiti road. Settlers on the soldier settlement there were sledging their milk, and a few miles of gravelling would help them enormously. Mr. Duncan added that he realised money was not plentiful at the present, time, but he hoped the Government would be able to heln the settlers of the district. Many of them had been on their land for twenty and thirty years without a road.

Mr. W. R. Johns (Waitara) mentioned the erosion caused bv the river at Waitara. This erosion first attracted attention in 1879. and since then it had been proceeding more or less rapidlv. A report dealing with the matter had been before the Government in 1920. and a scheme was put forward that would have cost about £4900. The borough of Waitara could not undertake this large expenditure. He asked that another engineer should report, or that a commission should he set up to investigate the position. The borough would like a Government subsidy on monev expended. Its finances were not in a very healthv condition, and it would have some difficulty in dealing with the matter. Mr. Massey: What about our finances? Mr. Johns added that the matter was urgent. Valuable town property would disappear soon unless something were done. WANTS OF OHURA. Mr. W. K. Williams (Ohura) spoke of the Ohura railwav. He said that the opening l of the section between Okahukura and Matiere was giving great relief to the district, and had encouraged settlers, who had been in the district for the last twenty years, but the section between Matiere and Ohura. also much required. The Ohura people had not pressed their claim during the war years, but after struggling so long with mud up to the saddle girths six months in the year they felt now that they were justified in asking for the completion of the line to Ohura. The portiofi of the line already completed must be paving the Government handsomely. The district around Ohura was occupied for fifteen or eighteen miles. The Minister for Public Works had got between si’.tv and seventv men working between Matiere and Ohura, and they were doing good work. The section remain’ng was not so difficult as the section that had been completed. The completion of the line to Ohura would be of enormous benefit +o the district. He could tell the Ministers that some settlers who had been in there for twenty years were very shaky to-day. and some of them might have to go out.

Mr. Massey: I hope not. Mr. Williams: They arc holding on in hones of the line. Mr. Massey: I hope they will hold on and carrv on. Mr. Williams added that the railwav would open vast coalfields, which eventually would supply the requirements of Taranaki, and would also make possible the development of large timber resource's. Mr. J. 1.. Kennedy (Tahora) said the settlers felt there should be some connection between Tahora and the Ohura district. A gorge separated them, and they were asking for a sum to bp placed on the Estimates for the metalling of the gorge road. There was bound to be a very large amount of traffic through the gorge as the railwav advanced. New Plymouth wa= the nearest port, and the settlers \would be able to use it if the gorge were metalled and the two railheads thus connected. Metal of suffici<ntlv seed _aualitv was available at both

g° r £ e- The Tahora people felt that as the railway was not proceeding fropi their end something should be done on the road. They realised that years would elapse before the railway was completed, as there Was much heavy construction and tunnelling to be done. Mr. J. B. Richards (Stratford) said that he could not agree with the sus- ' pension of work at his end. of the railway. but. with other people, he had to accept the decision' of the Government. He felt strongly that connection should be given between the railheads. There was quite a. good formed road now, and if the metalling were completed the settlers would benefit greatly. The metal in the gorge would make quite a satisI factory road.

The settlers had benefited already by the establishment of connection with the port of New Plymouth. The distance from Ohura to New Plymouth was oniy half the distance between Ohura and Auckland. There had been doubt, even in the minds of Taranaki people, at one time concerning the port, but that doubt had disappeared. They knew that they had a port capable of serving the whole province, and Ohura people ought to be assisted to share the benefit.

Mr. Richards added that Taranaki business people asked for equality of opportunity in catering for the requirements of the northern district. They were being shut off at present by eighteen miles of uncompleted road. Competition would be good for the district, and expenditure on the road would be bound to prove a good investment. The road must be completed sooner or later, and from Taranaki’s point of view the sooner the better. ROAD TO THE, NORTH. Mr. T. C. List (leader of the delegation) said that Taranaki people wanted all the assistance they could get in the development of their province, and they had been in touch with the Ministers for some time with respect to the requirements of the district. It was because they felt the urgency and importance of the works that they were pressing them upon the attention of the Government. He realised the difficulties of the Government, and he could say that Taranaki people sympathised with the Ministers in the troubles that had to be faced. Mr. List expressed appreciation of what the present Minister of Public Works had done in respect to some Taranaki works, alluding particularly to the vigorous policy pursued in regrading and metalling the Mt. Messenger road, which in the past had been an absolute barrier against communication with an important part of Taranaki’s hinterland. He appealed to the Government not to slacken effort, but to do more. The district had been getting the benefit of the policy of concentration in respect of the main north road, though the works still were not proceeding as fast as the people most concerned would wish.

He had beeh sorry to hear a suggestion that the steam shovel might be taken off, and he asked the Minister not to do that. The work was highly important and he would like to see more men there. It would be possible to have the road opened by the autumn of next year. A good road might not be completed then, but it would be a passable road, and by the following y there could be a good motor road right through. This road, connecting Taranaki with Auckland, ought to be regarded as a national work. “Don t slacken there in any way.” Raid Mr. List. “Push on with it. and give us a road, if it is at all possible, by the end of this summer.” I „ , . Turning to the question of the Mokau river brides. Mr. List asked the Minister for Public Works to make preliminary arrangements for the erection of this' structure. The deputation would not ask at that stage for a vote for the bridge. The road must go through first and thev did not want any money to be taken from the road for the bridge, but they felt justified in asking for a stronger engine to deni with the ferrv traffic there. The traffic was increasing. and a bridge certainlv would be required at the earliest possible moment. In the meantime the department should decide upon a site and have everything in readiness to push on with the bridge when the time came for its construction. THE TAHORA RAILWAY. “We believe in vour policy of concentration.” said Mr.'List. “We don’t quite agree however, with vonr determination as to what is the most urgent work. We believe that the Tahora railway ia the most important railway work r.i hand in New Zealand to-day, but wc i have to accept your decision, and we sav to vou, do all that you can at the other end. We know the difficulties of the settlers, and the most that you can do is not too mtfcll. They are gratefu for the railway to Matiere. It has saved a lot of them. Some of them told u» when we were in there last that it the railwav was not coming .through it would not’ be worth while holding on. You have saved them.” Mr. List added: “If you cannot give us railwav connection with our back country at present we ask you to consider the metalling of the road between Tahora and Tatu, a distance of sixteen or eighteen miles. That will bring hiwiness to the railwav from both sides, and it will enable the settlers to make use of their natural harbor at New Plymouth. and will be of advantage generallv to the country. Tn the present state of finances yon may not be able to make a large vote, but I ask you to affirm the principle and do something, at any rate, on the worst parts of the road this summer.” Mr List referred also x o the compilation of port statistics. The figures were of very great importance to the district. He found it impossible this year to get. information required for the Chambers of Commerce statistics to show what the Taranaki province was producing. Taranaki had a great record, and its people were proud of that record. Its production for the past year was a the rate of £B7 per head, as against £4l per head over the whole of New Zealand. , „ They could not get the. information for the 1921-2'2 vear because all produce transhipped to Wellington was credited to Wellington. The exports of Wellington for the last quarter, as shown m the official returns, were double the exports for the preceding quarter, while the exports of New Plymouth and Wonenntli were halved. He suggested that it would he a simple matter to include in the statistics a column showing exports bv the producing districts as well as exports by the main ports. Wellington could be given credit for all produce handled in her port, hut Taranaki people were entitled to their dis-, trict information for their own purposes. Mr. List added that the deputation had tried not to he unreasonable in its requests, and ho hoped that the Ministers would he able to give their assistTaranaki was a very important

province. It was progressing very rapidly, and the Government could materially help its people to develop its resources by giving favorable consideration to the matters mentioned.

Mr. Jennings remarked that seven •speakers had taken an average of five ; minutes, each, and he thought their businesslike brevity was an example to members of Parliament. MR. COATES’ REPLY. The Minister for Public Works said he could say little in reply. He had listened carefully to the representations made by the deputation. The Public Works Statement was being prepared and he could not indicate what it contained. He was sorry to hear the machine working on the Awakino road was not giving satisfaction, though its output had been much better recently. The Government intended to complete the construction of the road. It recognised the importance of the work, and «ome provision was being made in this year’s estimates. He did not propose to make any vote this year for the Mokau bridge, all the available money being required for the completion of the road. If he attempted to make provision for a bridge that was going to cost £40,000, he would delay the road. He believed the ferry should be improved by installing a more powerful engine. He believed that with a little improvement it. would serve the needs of the district for a few more years until bridge could be erected. A letter was going to the member for the district with regard to the metalling. He had heard Mr. Williams before, and he had given h‘s reply. Turning to the railway question, the Minister said he knew there was a good deal of feeling in Taranaki with regard to the suspension of work at that end, and he could understand the attitude of the district; but a day would come when New Plymouth and Stratford would bless him for the policy that he had adopted. The line had been proceeding at an exceedingly slow pace under the old system, and the department had not the material to do work of that description as it should Le done. A policy of concentration had been, adopted and it was proving successful. Many of the works were now coming to completion, and the time would arrive when he would be able to resume the lino at the Taranaki end. In the long run there would be no loss of time at all through the suspension of work. He believed that the period of construction would actually be shortened, since when work was started again the line would go ahead vigorously and would be completed within a reasonable period, instead of dragging along for years and years under the old system. The metalling of the road was difficult, but the department was doing its best. He had not contemplated voting any great amount of money for the road, for the reason that there were so many settlers around Ohura and Whangamomona who at present had no decent access to their creameries or anywhere else. He knew the importance of the road, but he was curtailing expenditure wherever possible in order to give settlers now struggling on farms some access to their market. The department was doing its best to keep the road in order in the meantime for through stock traffic. There were several very bad places on the road, and as far as he could improve them without heavy expenditure he would do it. That was his present attitude. He was prepared to reconsider any matter that should be reconsidered. He was proposing pretty heavy expenditure in the district this year, and he would be glad to put his proposals before the Prime Minister.

THE PRIME MINISTER. The Prime Minister said Taranaki was worthy of the confidence that had been expressed by the speakers. He had been over the roads, with the exception of the Tangarakau. It was quite evident that this connecting road was very important and should be improved. He would gj the length of saying that even though the financial troubles of the Government at the present time were pretty big, he was pleased to notice that works of very great importance to Taranaki were proceeding expeditiously. He had ridden over -from Te Kuiti to Waitara once in winter time, under the guidance of the late Mr. John Elliott, but things had changed since then. “I want to congratulate Taranaki or. its harbor,” said Mr. Massey. “I have known the place since I was a boy. The first time I went there, it was in a whaleboat, and it was not a very pleasant landing. Then, I never expected that you would be able to get deep-water ships into New Plymouth harbor. lam very glad that you have succeeded. The harbor must be of immense value to the whole province.”

The Prime Minister added that the Go/ ernment had over 7000 men on public works at the present time, and the pay of these men and the materials required for the works they were undertaking required a high sum of money every month. There seemed to be people all dver New Zealand who wished the Government to proceed with public works and the development of the country, but who said at the same time that the Government should not increase the public debt. He could not do the impossible. He realised very well that, the Dominion could not continue borrowing at the present rate for very long, but works that had been commenced would have to be completed. The difficulty was that works did not pay interest on loan money. They were indirectly reproductive, but thar was another story. The Public Works Estimates were being prepared, and he had no doubt that Mr. Coates would make recom mendations to Cabinet that would do justice to Taranaki. “I would like to see that, short line between the railheads completed,” said Mr. Massey, “but that is impossible at present. The policy of concentration has been very successful. It has turned out better than I expected, and the works as a whole K wili be completed earlier than otherwise would have been the case. If you cannot get through connections by rail in the near future, I feel you will get a decent road. I know what a papa road is, and I agrpe that the road should be completed

during the coming summer. I hope that will be the case and that the road will be the forerunner of better communication. We understand the needs of settlers and sympathise with them. We know that settlers want roads rather than sympathy, and we have to do our best to meet the requirements of the country as a whole.”

INVITATION TO PROVINCE. The Prime Minister said, in conclusion, that the erosion at Waitara and elsewhere was a serious matter and would have attention. He would confer w’ith the Minister for Internal Affairs regarding the port statistics and would endeavor to bring about the improved arrangements asked for. Mr. Jennings thanked the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works for their attention and their replies. Mr. List invited the Prime Minister to visit Taranaki and see ths districts for himself. If he did that, he would have the same faith in the future of the province that the people of Taranaki had, and would see the necessity fo£ pushing energetically on with the important public works mentioned. Mr. Massey replied that he had seen a

great deal of the province. It was his misfortune, rather than his fault, that he had not seen more of it. The war years had given him scant time for visits, and there were portions of his own electorate that > e had not seen for years. He would look forward to visiting Taranaki.