OTHER DEPUTATIONS

Press, Volume L, Issue 14921, 20 March 1914, Page 7

OTHER DEPUTATIONS

(SPECIAL TO "THK PKESS.") GREYMOUTH. March 19. The Prime Mi muter, who reached Reefton yesterday afternoon and Grerraouth to-day, is receiving a very cordial welcome on the West Coast,

litherto regarded as a Liberal stronghold, but now exhibiting undoubted manifestations of its belief in and support of tho Reform cau.se. keefton-westpokt railway. Replying to a deputation which requested the epecdier prosecution of work on the Reef ton-West port railway, Mr MasM-v stated that ho had not been able xo iindoretand why the line from lnanfahua J unction lo Westport was «-ostinn Mich a sum of money, but after <roin<'" through the. country that day, he could understand it. At the present time there was about <-40:).C0l) King idle, and be had eomo to the condition that it was unwise, to nl'ov.- tiro to remain unproductive. There was no chance of tho line at nre-M-nt bringing in even a low rate ot interest, but it was a matter that Cabinet must consider. PROSPECTING. GRAMS. With respect to an increase in pros-p.-ctin- grants, it was the first time bis attention had been called -o the fact that the amount granted by tiio Government was too small, but h* must inform them that in tho past the Government had never "turned down an apnlicatiou that had received the rerr>:un.emiaiion of the Inspector or Mine-:-. I* ■'}■■=> ?"'' f° ot xvas insufficient, then" tho Department would have to iccroiij-o it. IJKEFTOV COAL. Tho matter of freight on Rcefton roal for export was then brought beforo tho Minister. . Mr Morns referred to the unfair rr.io now rhar<:;-d by the Railway Department <in R<>«'fton coal in comparison v.it.h '.hat from the, Blackball and State Coal Mines. At the present t,ini<» i hey were charged 4s ftd per ton, whereas 'the Blackball Company paid only 2s <kl and tho State Coal Mines Is iOd and L's per ton. In his opinion Tineflr>n cat] should be carried for about .T-. It had been mi id by the Depnrtment that th« line from Rrnfton to N'jiahere (lid not nay. but it certainly would pny if the" Department placed Recfton coal on a cheaper rate. Mr .slated that tin; Government had recently appointed a first?la.«s man at a good salary to the position of general manager of railways, anrl he would recommend the Department to place their views before that gentleman, as the Government would ff-rtainly take notice* of any recommendation ho would make. VARIOUS MATTERS. In the course of a speech, Mr Mnssey f-aid that at the present timo there, were a Jot of railways nearly completed, and it was tho policy of his Government to complete them. Last year more railway construction was carried on than in any previous year, and in eases where tho Government could jiot .see their way to construct railways in any particular district, they were (juite willing that the public should be allowed to build branch lines, provided thai the gauge was the same as that of tho State railways, and also that if at any future timo the Government desired to take over such railways, they could do so at a valuation to be arrived at. In the matter of roadmaTring, the Government were doing all they could. Referring to telephone construction, Mr Massey said the present PostmasterGeneral was a great enthusiast in this matter, and last year £50,000 was spent on telephone construction. Some people complained that they were borrowing and spending too much money. That, in his opinion, did not matter as lonrc as the money was spent for a good purpose. The Workers' Homes scheme, which | provided for workers' homes in the largo centres, had been extended to the smaller places. In Westport they were now erecting twelve of theso homes, and, strange to say, they were costing less than those erected in other places—£soo each. Mr Massey then referred to the great strides that had beet made in the fniit-growing industry. New Zealand now Uad a splendid market on the West Coast of South America, which would take all the apples grown in the North Island, Nekou, and Otago districts. He himself had been a failure at fruitgrowing, simply becauso. he had not understood it, but that was altogether different, now that they knew the best kind of apples for export and how to doal with the pests. Parliament, last session, in response to his request, had voted the sura of £25,000 to assist, the Fruitgrowers' Associations to provido cool storage, canneries, etc., and he thought the West Coast should go in moro for -fruit-growing, as .he believed in the future ' this industry would be as good as the agricultural industry. (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) GIIEYMOUTH, March 19. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey arrived at Greymouth this morning, on his first official visit sinco he- came into office. Qr was met and welcomed by the MayoYj chairmen of local bodies, and a number of citizens. The afternoon was devoted to receiving deputations on various local matters. Afterwards, Mr Massey proceeded by motor-car to the Ten Mile and Runanga. -Mrs Maesey and her daughter were entertained by members of the Makura Croquet Club in the afternoon. In tho evening the Opera. House was packed, when the Prime Minister was given an official welcome by the citizens. The proceedings were most enthusiastic.