MINISTER OF WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 26 March 1923, Page 8

MINISTER OF WORKS.

DEPUTATIONS AT PAPABOA. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent., PAPAROA, this day. pl'ife \v"'i J ' G - - Coates ' Minister of Public Y\orks. arrived here by motor car on .Saturday from Ruawa'i, where 'he had attended to matters affectin" the district He received deputations com' prising leading settlers, who voiced the trict needs, including railway facilities roads and bridges. Among" important matters urged on the Minister's attention were substantial grants for completing the connection via Valley Road to the railway station and the' Great North Road. Assistance was asked for rebuilding Hardies bridge at Matakohe and for the conveyance of a supply of metal by Public Works trains from Tauraroa quarry for the use of the Otamatea County Council. Mr. E. (1. Aicken. on behalf of the county council, asked for a subsidy of £lii 6 for the main road through" Komiti fruit lands block, subject to the loan being carried by the ratepayers on March 31. A second request from the council was for an amendment to the Local Bodies Loans Act, section 24, reducing the span of bridges to come under the bridge loan scheme for councils from 30ft to 20ft, with a view to bringing a larger number of hridges under the scope of the scheme, making it more equitable for all ridings, and thus increasing the prospects of a substantial loan being carried.

The Minister, who seemed impressed with the fairness of the requests put forward by the council and settlers, promised careful consideration. The Minister and party left for Auckland yesterday.