WAIRARAPA’S NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 219, 10 June 1921, Page 6

WAIRARAPA’S NEEDS

THE PROBLEM OF BRIDGES INSPECTION BY MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS The Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) has returned to Wellington from a visit to theWairarapa electorate. The Minister left Wellington on Thursday morning, and motored over tho Riniutakas. At Featherston he was joined by Mr. Quentin Donald (chairman of the Featherston county), and proceeded straight to the site of the bridge at Kahutura. This structure, consisting of four spans of 90 feet, was built by the county thirty years ago, and was used continuously until eighteen months ago. Tho loan had just been paid off when a mob of cattle crossing the bridge broke through one of the long spans, and since then a boatman has ferried people across from side to side. Tho county now wishes tha authority to bo renewed to re-erect the bridge. On crossing the river the party was met by Mr. A. D. M'Leod, M.P., and a number of settlers, and after inspecting the structure Mr. M'Leod said that the bridge had in any case become too light for traffic. The Department had made a grant last session of £1 for £2, which meant that tho Government would pay £lO9O and tho settlers £BOOO towards the cost of re-erection. This was one of tho works for which authority has not been reissued; owing to the need of economJ they had not been able to spend more than one-third of the amount granted last year; they were carrying on these works by their own bridge gangs; they had Ordered from England the big steel required, and it had now arrived, at a cost of £2O per ton. They therefore asked, on behalf of the settlers, that the authority be restored, as they had no convenient access io the railway otherwise. Tho Minister, in reply, said that the financial difficulties of settlers - were reflected on the Government, which found it urgently necessary to take a certain line of action. Blocking necessary works was the last thing any Government w-ant-ed to do. He was very keen to go ahead with necessary works, but it was likely to be rather a doubtful time financially, and. much against their own desire, they had been compelled to go slow. He had been instructed to, cut down Ins expenditure to £200,000 a month, but when it was found that this would throw thousands of men out of employment it was recognised that tho Government, like private individuals, had a duty in such a time to endeavour to prevent distress, so he was allowed to make his limit £300,000 a month. '< They could, however, only undertake such works as were claimed urgent and very necessary. The question was whether this bridge was absolutely urgent and necessary; that point he had not yet decided. Settlers must have access.' though he did not say whether it would be access by railway or macadamised road. He would take advice on tho subject, and would not make any statement at present, but he understood they wanted the authority for £lOOO restored and assistance in getting money from the Advances Department. He would look into the matter and see what assistance he could give. , The Minister visited Lake Fenj, and proceeded to Hinakura, says the Mi airarapa Age.” to see the four suspension bridges of reinforced concrete built by the county and Mr. Joseph Dawson at a cost of almost £12,000. One visited was at Moeraki. close to the homestead of Councillor D. Cameron, and a large number of motors brought settlers and flheir wives from the surrounding stations.. Groupeil round a red, white, and blue ribbon in the middle I the . ( 2m gathering was addressed by Mr. -J Leod, vho said he was glad to welcome Mr. Coates there to see the important works undertaken by settlers {hemselves to get tho river bridged. He knew the lahaoa himself practically _ for a lifetime as tho most dangerous’ river in the electorate; it had given the county trouble for twenty years, and the bridges now erected were to avoid) the almost impossible task of bringing roads round the sideliiigs up from the river-bed. the. had anticipated two years ago' they would erect them for £10,600, and the cost was nearly £12,000, a serious burden for the settlers for « of years. It was the policy of the Department that votes could not be made for bridges unless plans were approved beforehand, but he was still in hopes that after Mr. Coates had seen the bridges they had adopted for opening up the count}’ some attempt would be made to assist them. Sir Walter Buchanan said he looked back from forty to forty-five yeare ‘ ha time when he asked the residents ot the Valley to meet him and endeavour to persuade Toi Mahupuku, the chief of the Macfris, who owned all that beautiful district, to grant laud for a road for the settlers fltom Martinboroiugh. The’r only way previously was by the Dahaoa, a river which had) caused the less ot many lives. The settlers were very grateful io the ilaons for granting the land, and subscribed for a handsome gold watch for Mahupuku. Mr. Joseph Dawson, tho contractor, referred to the help of the late Mr. Hogg. Sir Walter Buchanan, and Mr. Henry Bunny in getting suspension bridges adtopted. He had now twenty-two of them'in existence. Mr. Coates congratulated the settlers on what they had done in the past to help themselves, and what they didteday in accepting responsibilities. They had a good county and land of a good even quality, capable of carrying a heavy bate. The Government's principle was ko give access to everybody, not necessarily by a first-class road, but means of getting stock and a'fomily m and out. They had not borrowed out of New Zealand' since 1915, and all public had been done out of surplus since then. To-dav thev did not know what their revenue ‘would be, but they knew it was likclv to be reduced. Generally speaking, thev ha-dl asked the local authorities wdiat they considered their njpst urgent and essential works. Later in the day the Minister was welcomed at a public meeting at a artinborough.