PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 81, 3 October 1938, Page 11

PUBLIC WORKS

REPLY TO MR. BARKER

"ILLOGICAL REMARKS"

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") BLENHEIM, This Day. A reply to comments on public works in Marlborough by Mr. W. L. Barker, National candidate for Wellington East, was made on Saturday by Mr. E. P. Meachen, Labour candidate for the electorate, when speaking at Koromiko. Mr. Meachen described Mr. Barker's remarks as being absolutely false, unreasonable, and illogical. Lion's Back Hill, he said, had been the scene of many accidents, and deputations had approached the Government and Highways Board for its improvement. General satisfaction had been expressed locally that at last something had been done, owing to the straightening of the road. A certain amount of grazing land was required, but due to the straightening the new reserve would occupy less land than the old one, which would ultimately have just as good grazing value. Regarding the Tuamarina deviation, the Marlborough Automobile Association had been the first to draw attention to the need for an all-weather route to Piclon. This had been followed on the occasion of a visit by the Minister of Public Works by a deputation from the Marlborough Progress League, -who had escorted the Minister over the proposed deviation. Mr. Semple had readily seen the difficulties, and had agreed to have the deviation put through. Mr. Barker's remarks about bridges to be built at Tuamarina deviation were extravagant and irresponsible, Mr. Meachen said. Mr. Barker had referred to four bridges. Actually there was one bridge 140 ft long to be built at Spring Creek, and another 960 ft long over the Wairau River. The Railway Department also proposed to rebuild the railway bridge (960 ft lonf) over the Wairau River in the ordinary course of its maintenance renewals. If the railway bridge was included the total length of bridging would be 2060 ft, and not 21,120 ft, as suggested by Mr: Barker. LESS EXPENSIVE. "I might mention that the deviation is calculated to cost 60 per cent, of the estimated cost of making the present highway an all-weather route and, in addition, the deviation will eliminate two dangerous level crossings," Mr. Meachen said. "Mr. Barker refers to the confiscation of two farms. In actual fact one farm loses approximately one and a half acres and the other one and a quarter acres. Mr. Barker should know that the Public Works Act, which was put into operation last century, provides for the taking of land whether for Government or local body purposes upon the payment of reasonable compensation." Regarding the allegation of ruthless cutting down of plantations, Mr. Meachen said he knew of no plantations that were being ruthlessly destroyed. In some cases extra land was being acquired for the purpose of tree planning for highway beautification purposes. Many private plantations were being exploited at the present time and perhaps Mr. Barker had not been able to distinguish between these and public reserves. Mr. Barker had made special reference to the beautiful plantation being hacked down* at Massacre Hill. ; The position was that the Railway Department was removing a few trees growing on the railway reserve in order to improve railway alignment to the trunk route standard to synchronise with the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway. Mr. Meachen concluded by saying that in the short time Mr. Barker was in the district he obviously could not have visited Molesworth, Tarndale, Rainbow, arid in any case he was apparently unaware of the circumstances surrounding these runs. They were not affected by taxation imposed by the Labour Government owing to their being mostly leasehold, while the small amount of freehold had been exempted from taxation owing to the extent of the mortgage liabilities. The lessee and his backers had suffered losses, estimated at round about £45,000, in past years, the carrying capacity had been reduced considerably and the place was overrun with rabbits. Under the supervision of the Agricultural Department approximately 20 men were now engaged in eliminating this pest.