THE HON. J. G. WARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 299, 17 December 1900, Page 2

THE HON. J. G. WARD.

VISIT TO • HENDERSON

At 11.30 o'clock the Hon. J. G Ward and party, drove to Mount Eden station, where a special train was waiting to convey;'the Minister for Railways as far as Henderson. This trip was in fulfillment of a promise made by Mr. Ward to the.member for the district. .Mr. John Bollard. Amongst those in. the train were Messrs. G. Fowlds, V, Lawry and John Bollard, M's.H.R., Mr. J. Muir and Mr. Theo. Cooper, as well as Messrs. Wilson and Hyde, private secretaries to Mr. Ward. At Waikumete station quite-a crowd of settlers were waiting. -Mr, Ward, in order to save time, invited all present to get on the train and accompany him to Henderson, and the invitation was at once accepted. On Hie way to the next station Mr. Bollard introduced various gentlemen to Mr. Ward, and explained that the object of the deputation was that the workmen's trains should be run to Waikumete. That could be done if Mount Eden was taken as the terminal station. He was certain that from the first more than 50 would travel by the train from Henderson and Waikumete. The land was cheap and suited to close settlement, while it was proved that it could be made to produce the finest of fruit. Ml that was wanted was the assurance that Hiese trains would be run and people would settle in the district. Mr. Rout-lev expressed pleasure at Mr Ward's visit, and complimented "that gentlemen upon the improve-ments-made in the railway and postal services. He strongly urged the running of workmen's trains as far as Waikumete. and stated that Mount Eden was the terminal station lor eight out of ten residents. By that time Henderson had been reached, and as a large number of settlers were waiting it was decided to take the deputations together. M Ward accordingly went to the goods shed, where he was briefly introduced to the ladies and gentlemen present by Mr John Bollard. Mr Ward said he could assure all present he was very glad to have visited the district, and promised that the matters brought before him should receive careful consideration, but in all railway matters the financial outcome had to be carefully gone into. „ „ . Mr R. Cranwell, on behalf of the residents, said Henderson was only 8 or 9 miles from Auckland as the crow flies, and he trusted that although by the line it was outside the 10 mile radius of working men's trains, still it might have the benefit of such trains as the place was especially well adapted for close settlement, Mr Cranwell pointed out that land was very cheap in the district, and 'yet capable of producing good fruit. If trains were run he was confident it would greatly promote settlement. Mr R. Monk, M.H.R., spoke in favour of running workmen's trains to Henderson. He said of course the Department naturally looked to the question of whether such, trains, would pay rio-ht away, but he felt certain that the district would be greatly benefited by such trains, and that the increased traffic would in time recoup any pre, sent loss. How much better it would be for the children to be out here rather than crowded in the city of Auckland. He felt certain that this would pay as a speculation. He was confident'eventually the step would prove, a success, both to Waikumete and Henderson. Mr Bosomworth referred to the great increase in tourist, traffic latterly. Mr Bollard .said he had shown the Department blocks of - land at New Lynn, Avondale and Waikumete, all suitable for settlement. His own idea was that the State should provide land worth £50 and a house worth £100 for the working men. which would promote settlement and allow the workers to live in the country at n weekly rental in the shape of interest of 0/1 The whole thing would only cost about £25.000. With regard to the trains, Mr Bollard said a number of people at Henderson had families growing up, and workmen's trains would enable them to let the boys go to town to learn trades. / Mr Morgan said Waikumete was particularly suitable for close settlement, as 'its capability for fruitgrowing was proved.Mr T. Roberts said lie could endorse all Mr Bollard had said about the workmen's setlement scheme being suited to Henderson. Mr G. Fowlds, M.H.R., said passengers from this district had to go round by Newmai'ket, and it was bad enough 'to have to go round, without having to pay for the extra two or three miles. (Applause.) Mrs Hepburn also spoke in favour of having the trams. Mrs Cantwell said she would like the trams to run, as, she had three children, who would then be able to get places in Auckland, and still live at home. Miss Colebrook suggested that before the Government started workmen's trains the land should be first secured, so as to guamtee that the

workmen were not made to pay an increased rate for the land. Mr Levy said once the trains were running he was certain they would pay, and settlement would increase. Mr Ward, in replying, said first of all it was the duty of the State to see that no one benefited by buying up the land before the trains were set running for workmen. These trains were for the benefit of workmen, to enable them to live away from crowded centres. At present it was laid down that these workmen's trains should not run outside a radius of 10 miles. He would, however, always be c-lad to grant any concession possible on the railways, so long as there was •i reasonable chance of results being financially satisfactory; but at the s-iprqe time it must be borne in mind that concessions must apply equally io all parts of New Zealand.. If a train was run, and then withdrawn because it did not pay, then they would feel it worse than if a workmen's train bad never been run. <\s regards Mr, Bollard's scheme while it would only cost' ,-U 25,000 for Henderson and Waikumete it would run into millions for the wdio'le colony. They must remember that workmen's trains could only be run satisfactorily within short distances of cities. Great concessions had already been made by the Railway Department, and until the end of next March they' could not really tell how things would work out, therefore nlo further concessions could be. made before that date. They must always remember that the State had to run the railways so that they would pay 3 per cent.'on the £16,500,000 invested In railways. • ,

Three cheers were then given for Mr, Ward, and three more as the train wil^r the Ministerial party left the station. . This afternoon Mr \Y<-.<i-d, Mr C. Ward, and Messrs Wilson and Hyde left for Wellington by the s.s. Rotoiti.