THE HON. R. M’KENZIE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1911, Page 7

THE HON. R. M’KENZIE.

VISIT TO POVERTY BAY DISTRICT.

FAVOUR ABLY IMPRESSED. [BT TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, March, 21. Tho Hon. R. McKenzie, who has been visiting the East Coast north ox Gisborne, was at Waipiro yesterday, and paid a visit of inspection to the Waipiro Hospital, where everything was found to be most satisfactory. A deputation from tho Waipu Countv Council waited on the Minister regarding the wants of the district. Special mention was made of a bridge over the Waipu River and the condition of the road through the native land, Hie deputation also asked the Minister n there was any possibility of getting a reduction of the duty on steel, lor which they bad bad to pay heavily, for bridge construction. In reply, the Minister said that be would advise the deputation not to proceed with the road through the native lands until permission had been obtained as it might be stopped. He considered that native lands should be loaded for roads or else should pay rates for them. The Minister expressed himself as greatly pleased with the district, but said he considered that it should be carrying fifty times as many settlers. He advised that the deputation themselves and not the Hon: Mr. Carroll or Sir Joseph Ward, should visit tho district. In regard to the duty on steel, he advised the deputation to do as the Government did

and import the raw r material and work it up, there was a duty only on the finished article. Hon. Mr, McKenzie returns by steamer to Tokoniaru . to-morrow even-

ing, when ho wil Ibe entertained by the Chamber of Commerce, leaving on Thursday overland for Wairoa and Napier. The present occasion is the first time that a Minister has- visited the Coast directly north of Gisborne. Tonight the Minister was entertained at dinner by Mr. S. Williams.