MINISTER OF WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1922, Page 5

MINISTER OF WORKS.

° PEPLTATION.S AT HAMILTON. (U.v Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.' HAMILTON, this day. The Minister of Public Works hail a rough journey through by car from Aria in the King Country, and did not, reach Hamilton till after 11 p.m. on Saturday. IJespite the lateness of the hour he received deputations from midnight till 2 a.m. The Wa'pa County Council representatives asked for a straight out grant of £1000 for the Newcastle riding, instead of a subsidy of £1 for £3. The Minister said he would consider the matter. but he would prefer the issue of authorities rather than incur liabilities.

Waikato County Council representatives asked for authority to spend £1000 on tbe Orini-Tauhei road and for a. grant of £.340 (previously granted but cancelled) fur the Taupiri-Ngaruawahia road. The Minister said be would consider the former request, but gave no hope of granting the second one. Though the road was probably bad they must remember there were hundreds of returned soldiers in the backblocks without a road nt all. At present permanent gangs of the Telegraph Department are all engaged in the Waikato district in making readjustments of telegraph, and telephone Wires in conjunction with high power electric gangs. This is absolutely the whole of the staff.

There are a large number of rural applicants for telephone connections, and Mr. J. A Young, M.P., asked the Minister to allow this work to be carried on by some of the unskilled labourers at present out of employment in the district. Material was available, and the work was not such as required the attention of experts. The Minister raid , the whole thing was a question of money, lie would look into the matter and make his decision, known shortly.