MINISTER'S TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 88, 15 April 1933, Page 5

MINISTER'S TOUR.

MANY DEPUTATIONS.

PLIGHT OF CROWN TENANTS.

MR. RANSOM IN THE NORTH.

WHANGAREI, this day.

Numerous deputations are being received by the Minister of Lands, Hon. E. A. Ransom, on his Northern tour. To a number of deputations the Minister has expressed the opinion that Crown tenants, despite the fact that they are passing through difficult times, are in a better position than unemployed men on relief work. At Ohaeawai it was stated that Crown tenants were prepared to shoulder as much of the burden as they could carry, but at present it was impossible to meet charges. It was proposed as a temporary measure of relief that the rate of interest be reduced to 2J per cent, but Mr. Bansom said that was out of the question: In support of the contention that the Department was getting too much of the cream cheque, a member of a deputation quoted instances showing how much men had left. Taking the first three months of this year, he said, one man had 60 per cent deducted. The Department got £28 10/ and the settler £G 8/. Other instances were: —50 per cent, £20 14/ and £11 5/; 50 per cent, £16 7/ and £4 7/; 66 2-3 per cent, £15 16/ and 18/9. The Minister was reminded that the farmers had been urged to increase production. They had done so, and it was now for the Government to see that their produce was marketed. Mr. Bansom said this was a matter that was receiving very serious consideration. Kawakawa-Russell Road. At Kawakawa, the Minister was asked to take steps for the. completion of a short section of road to complete the connection between Kawakawa and Russell. It was stated that less than three miles of road formation and metalling were required to complete the Waikare Road, which would give Kawakawa connection with the new Wha-ngarei-Russell Road. This would reduce the distance from Kawakawa to Russell from 72 miles to 28 miles. The Minister said he would ask the Minister of Public Woi-ks, Hon. J. Bitcliener, to get a report on the proposition. At Russell, the directors of the Bay of Islands Co-operative Dairy Co. explained to the Minister a proposal to move the Otiria Junction station from its present site to a point near the existing Moerewa station.. They said that about 90 per cent of the traffic on the line came from Moerewa by reason of the exinstence of the freezing works, and the dairy factory at that point, yet they had only an unofficered flag station, with no platform, no public siding, and no goods shed. On the other hand, it was contended that there was nothing to justify the junction at Otiria. Less than 200 yards along the line from Moerewa there was the site of a former station, which had been removed, and this was suggested as a suitable place for the combined junction and Moerewa station. It would mean moving the junction about a mile and closing the existing Moerewa station. An alternative was to give road access to the present flag station, and to enlarge and improve the facilities. In justification of the request, the deputation referred to the increase in the killings, and to the larger output from the dairy factory. Mr. Ransom promised to convey the representations to the respective Ministers.-