PUBLIC WORKS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16213, 16 May 1918, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS.

SIR WILLIAM FRASER AT

GERALDIXE

SEVERAL GRANTS PROMISED.

(srcci-u, to "the ratss.")

GERALDIXE, May i st To-dav Geraldino was honoured by « visit from Sir William Frascr, Minister of Public Works, and ut night he was entertained at dinner at tho Crowa Hotel. Sir William arrived at Rangitata in. tho afternoon, the object of visit there being to inspect tho sito of tie proposed traffic bridge over tho Rangitata liver. lie was mot at Rangitata by Colonel Mackenzie, chairman of the County Couueii, Messrs Flatman and Ellis, members of tho Council, and a number of residents interested in tho proposed bridge, which is to span the south branch of the river just below tho railway bridge. Sir William inspected this sito, as well as an alternative one at what is known as RabbiS Island, where the streams divido, this being about IV miles below the traffic bi idge. He was accompanied by, Mr McKnuis, of the Public Works Department, t'hnstchuroh. A thorough mve.-Ugaiion was made, and it was explained that to meet tho cost tho Geraldino County Council had agreed to give tno Government £1500, and the residents intorestod i'looo. 'The cost of tho bridge in wood was estimated at i'GOOO to i 10.000, and in ferro-con-erete at .CIS),QUO. It was pointed oot that some 'peopie woro of opinion that the river could be turned at Rabbit Island, and tho greater part of the water diverted to tho north bank. After going into tho relative merits of the proposed sites, Sir William was motored to Geraldino.

At the dinner in the evening Colonel Mackenzie presided, and thcro wera also present in addition to the guest Mr B. R. Mac Donald (Mayor of Geraldine), Mr A. Wilkinson (chairman of tho Geraldino Road Board), Dr. His* lop, Messrs F. R. Flatman, D. McGregor, J. Kennedy, H. C. Bennett, C. W. Cox, T. Shcrrntt, E. Twigg, A. P. Barklie, J. J. Hudson, T. Dwyer, B. Hayes, and A. A. Roadie. In proposing tho health of Sir Wo. Fraser. Colonel Mackenzie congratulated him on the honour that had been conferred upon him by tho King, an honour which was well deserved, and which they all appreciated, and they hoped ho would long live to enjoy it. (Applause.) Thoy were very pleased to have Sir William visit them #t Geraldine, as it afforded them on op* nortunity of making their requirements known-to him in a much more ©ffeotWe way than writing. They did not sino-? t a great deal till the war was over, lmt they had to bo getting ready nor for post-war activities. He praised th" Nni'onnl Government, for its work. Mr Mac Donald also offered the Mln*"' ister a hearty welcome to Geraldine oil behalf of the townspeople, and went on to refer in terms of the highest prait® to the achievements of tho NatiODll Government, which, ho said, had do» wonders, especially when it was sidered that it had no precedent -far j.niide it in tho huge and varied opera* tions which tho war had made necessary. The work of tho Government' could not be considered other thanmar-5 vollons. It had faced the conscriptionquestion boldly, as soon as the rieea hjup arisen, and had not bungled it asitl|Mp> been bungled elsewhere. vi! Mr Wilkinson welcomed the Minister on behalf of tho Road Board. As amember of tho farming comipimifot W, congratulated tho National Governmentr-. on having fixed tho price of whoatJtWw said that while tho price of meat, and wheat was fixed, tho GovenUMDl should turn its attention to 'othet;; things, and fix tho price of fencing-wir# iron, petrol, etc. As a farmer, .he would like to see ovorything treated' equally. (Hear,n hoar.) Sir William Fraser, who was very cor-} dially received, tendered his sincere; thanks to tho company for tho kindly waV in which it had received the toqsfc of his health, and .said, with regard'to the honour which had been conferred 'ijjfc: him by tho King, that its value wj been enhanced by Teason of .the that peoplo throughout the Dominion" had referred to it. (Applause.) The Government could not do a great tykl ivhile the war was on in the way of public works, but ho was having veys made, and getting work ready;#; employ many men as soon as the W* ■was over. He was very pleased to ty, able tb say that local bodies, goneralljf. speaking, wero adopting a reasonable attitude, and wore not worrying hitf for a lot' of things which lie coala possibly give. They had beon veij. moderato in their demands since "W----war started.. The Government COtild not carry out public works without money, and it was iniFossibJa raise large sums of money now : ;for other than financing the war and, apart from this, it was impossible to gefctliß labour. Usually at this time of the year lie had 4000 to 5000 men on his. books; at present ho had less - thaa 2000. However, the countrv WBl Setting along pretty well. lley i liad plenty of food and clothing, and .were able to find an abundance of moOftT j for luxuries and amusements.; wished to utter a warning, though.As was no pessimist, that times wonM. not' be so prosperous after the wanvaad they should now set about saving'off they could. He believed that in-Tief-Zealand and Australia remurieratiW prices would rule for staple rrodncti, but that money would bo much tighter than it was now. Sir William alsoh* n word to say concerning the Second Division, prefacing these remarks the statement that lie was expressing nnlv his personal opinion and was, committing the Cabinet. It wafi* burning question. and what. he, want# to point out was that the, differapw between what was now going, to; te paid to the dependants of soldiers aal what was paid three years ago ...WM £600,000 a year. When men left to fight for their country they liked to,|» their dependents comfortably prondtf for, but the country could cot aflonj to pav except on ono basis: they cooW not differentiate between the man WW, in civilian life was receiving £400Nj 3'ear and the ono who was getting f-w 1 a year. They would all like to yty very much more if they could. regretted that the. serious illness Of Ay Xosworthy's father had prevented ujfjf member from accompanying him on tW* visit, but he honed to return in weeks' time and go round the dttttic* with Mr Nosworthy. , ' Sir William afterwards received .? number of deputations on local f tc-rs. • With regard to the null crosWV bridge near Tcmuka, the nn^ IIU 'A. agreed to give a grant of £260., ,w.: work to be ijono on with immediate/For the Hae Te Moana bridge .W inist<?r promised half tho cost up With regard to the road to give access from Geraldino ..." Mesopotamia station, the agreed to increase the GovernttO" grant from £'150 to £250. tJjiAt With regard to the traffic on S* a h"ked for over tho Rangitata river, William stated that nothing conJd said until a report on tho rwer had been made. to For the Beautiful Valley «gd stated that if the Public Wl; gineer said thp work was worth &W his Department would gjve a gran ; I

£d \Vith regard to the main railway lino to serve Gem th" Minister said he recognised^ Gcraldine oushttohavca would give the Minister or RauiW*, . impressions of the djfitricst :