NEW POST OFFICE OPENED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2724, 20 March 1916, Page 6

NEW POST OFFICE OPENED

SIR JOSEPH WARD APPEALS FOR RECRUITS. By Telegraph—Preeß Association. Rotorua, March 19. Sir. Joseph Ward opened a new post office at Mamaku on Saturday, when there was a large gathering of settlers. The Minister was welcomed by Mr. R. A. Jackson, chairman of the Settlers' and Ratepayers' Association, and by Mr. H. M. Marton, chairman.of the Rotorua County Council. The latter congratulated Sir Joseph Ward on the progressive policy which had led to the erection of the Mamaku post office, the largest in the county outside of Rotorua. He stated that the rateable value of the county had risen from £85.000 to £481,000 in ten years. The settlers expressed their high apprecia-. tion of _ Sir Joseph Ward's action in performing the ceremony when he had such important duties to perform as Minister of Finance.

Sir Joseph Ward said the people who -went into the back-blocks and underwont the hardships incidental to the opening up of new country deserved every encouragement. The State ownership of sawmills in their district was going to hasten that desideratum. His boyhood's, experience had been gained in bushlauds which weio afterwards invaded by the sawmiller, and now they were flourishing homesteads. Twelve years ago he predicted that dairying would be the foremost industry in New Zealand,' and it was now second only to the meat industry. As the bush dis. appeared, dairy farms would take its place. As Minister of Railways, he had authorised daily expresses to Rotorua, arid pessimists said it would never last; but they had been woefully, mistaken. He had created the • Tourist Department, and strongly advocated the development of Rotorua. He wanted to assure them that there was no shortage of money in Now Zealand, but fho question before them was their responsibility for liabilities after the war was over. He urged the need for economy. _He was trying to prevent money rising to a- high rate of interest. The Minister made a Btrong appeal on behalf of recruiting, saying if we were beaten not one man of those before him would own his land for a month. Everyone physically capable must not make idle excuses, but. come forward to help to secure victory for England and her Allies.' New Zealand was worth working and. fighting for. They should not wait for the pressure of compulsion, but should come forward to defend their, homes and j families. There was no more noble sacrifice than for a man to lay down his life for hia friend.

After the opening ceremony the Minister was entertained by the Settlers' Association at luncheon in the Mamaku Town Hall. A few short speeches were made. Mr. W. Crooke, secretary of tlio Settlers' Association, referring to Sir Joseph Ward's recruiting appeal, said tlio whole of the married men' of the district were ready to come forward if required. The remark was received with enthusiastic applause.