MINISTERIAL VISIT

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 December 1936, Page 12

MINISTERIAL VISIT

MR FRASER AT GREIMOLTR. ;* i WELCOME AND DEPUTATIONS. — I Making his first visit to Greymouth as a member of the Labour Cabinet, Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Education, Marine, and Health, arrived last evening, and was extended a welcome ar the Municipal Chambers. The Mayor (Mr W. Meldrum) presided, and there were also present Mr O'Brien, M.P.. Messrs A. H. McKane, J. B. Kent, A. M. Carroll (Borough Councillors), F. H. Denton (Town Clerk), P. J. McLean (Chairman of the Greymouth Harbour Board and President of the Chamber of Commerce), Hon. J. Goodall, M.L.C.. J. Smeaton (Mayor of Brunner), W. Barber (Brunner Borough Councillor). T. E. Coates, ,L North, and A. A. Adams. In extending a welcome, the Mayor said that Mr Fraser was on his first Ministerial visit to the West Coast, partly on official business, and' also on holiday. They on the West Coast thought he could not have done better with regard co his holiday, because in going to the Franz .Josef ami Fox glaciers he was going to place, where he -would see probably th” finest scenery in New Zealand, and scenery that would' match itself with any other scenery in the world. There was no doubt that he would see so much and so many fine sights that he would become, like other famous men who had gone there, an ardent supporter of the beauties of the West Coast, and would advertise them. Lord Jellicoc, Lord Bledisloe, Archbishop Mannix, and others could not but praise in the highest terms the beauties they saw in Westland. Another famous man went there to do a bit of clear thinking! Sir George Grey, who drafted the original Constitution of New Zealand, went to the slopes of Ruapehu to put the finishing touches to his draft, and the Hoff. J. G. Coates, at a later "date- went to Waiho to do some clear thinking about the policy of his party. Mr Fraser ■was following in their footsteps, in spending his holiday at the glaciers. Mr Meldrum hoped that the Minister and Mrs Fraser would come back refreshed in health from their trip. Regarding his business visit, the Minister ol Education was doing all he could to provide schools and their requirements. Mr O’Brien was not idle ii bringing before him the wants of the district. They were glad to welcome Mr Fraser to the West. Coast, not only as a Minister carrying out his official duties, but also as a tourist. O.n behalf of the citizens of Greymouth, he extended a cordial welcon’.e to Mr Fraser. Mr O’Brien also extended a hearty welcome to the Minister, on his first official visit to Westland. Since' lie left Wellington that morning, the Minister, who had come to look at the

beauty spots, had probably been better pleased each mile he travelled. Mr O’Brien hoped that the clerk of the weather would put on a line day or two. Along with the beauties of Westland, there were one or two other matters he would like the Minister to become acquainted with. He referred to the resources of this particular part of New Zealand. He was quite sure the Minister would find out that many of the resources of Westland had hardly been touched. There was wonderful wealth in timber, and minerals, and some of the land was probably unequalled in New Zealand. If time permitted, the Minister might have a look at some of the best land in New Zealand, and' some of the farms that were practically putting up records for production. The timber forests could also be viewed. If they could not get harbours—and in some places It was quite obvious they could

not —it meant the extension of the > tailway further south. In the far south, there were possibilities of har- i l.curs, which the Minister would not got an opportunity of visiting, at Okuiu and Bruce Bay. Those localities badly needed opening up. At Jackson’s Bay, they had been blessed with a natural harbour, that required little to make it workable by the biggest vessels in" the world. He was quite sure that the Minister would be pleased with that harbour, if he could get a lok at it, if only troni the air. qhe timber resources ot South W estland had to be tapped, because New Zealand needed the timber, particularly white pine, which the farmers wanted lor bu.tter-boxes. The programme of requests to bo placed before the Minister that evening was particularly light. continued Mr O’Brien. The .Minister did' not want numberless deputations on matters that did not affect his Department. On 1 ehalf of the people of Westland. Mr O’Brien said he had great pleasure in welcoming Mr and Mrs Fraser. He ti listed that, when they left, they would take away many happy remembrances of the time they spent on the West. Coast, the beauty of the scenery, and the possibilities of Westland.

MINISTER'S REPLY. On behalf of Mrs Fraser and himself, the Minister said that he thanked them cordially and sincerely tor their kind and hospitable welcome. Certainly, his reception at Greymouth had been warm and cordial, and not by any means dry, but he had heard over the telephone that the same wet weather was prevailing that night from Greymouth to Wellington. The country could do with a bit of rain, in the north and in the Blenheim district. His knowledge of Westland, he continued', was not very extensive, and did not extend further than Ross. He visited Ross in 1915, ad liked every inch of what he saw. He had seen some of the lakes. Ross, Hokitika, and Greymouth, and he knew the latter better than the other places. He had always been fascinated by the mountains of the Son,th, almost as much as the early pioneers must have been. When he was requested by the Westland Hospital Board, to perform a ceremony in connection with the hospital there, he thought that, being in the district, it was up to him to endeavour to sec for himself, if cnly for a day <)r two, the world-famous beauties ,ol‘ the Franz Josef and the Fox. He did not think that anyone who had seen photographs, read descriptions, and listened to the representative of Westland in* Parliament, needed any conversion to the necessity for pushing, as much as was humanly possible, the claims of Westland for adequate recognition and support in regard to its scenic and | tourist resorts. Westland required Ino great advertising. Eveybody who had ever been to the glaciers, and had I gone through the wonderful bush ’ scenery, was never anything but a ' missionary fop the West Coast. He

kenw of dozens who had the same story to tell, and he had never heard a single dissenting voice. The list of his acquaintances who had been there really extended all over the world. Dr. Ross, a. correspondent for the “Berliner Tageblatt,” who had seen scenery all over the world, said that he had seen nothing better, nor could he imagine anything more unique, than the bush scenery of Westland. The resources of Westland had been told by Mr O’Brien, and the name of Westland resounded continuously through Parliament Buildings and the House of Representatives. If members of Parliament did not know a good deal about Westland, it was not Mr O'Brien's fault; they must have been neglecting their duties and been absent from the House. Believing that ho had. a cause worth while, and that there were agricultural, forest, and mineral resources capable of vast de-

velopment, Mr O’Brien never hesitated to express his belief, and he certainlyhad convinced Parliament. Mr Fraser said that, if he could, he would travel down by aeroplane, to have a glance at the forest resources and the bays in South Westland, to give him some intelligent idea as to whether a harbour could be planned and produced at. Okarito or Jackson’s Bay. He could get some grasp of the problem. If harbours could lie constructed, it w;as very desirable, but there were difficulties in certain parts. Apparently, Jackson's Bay was one of the outstanding possibilities. The timber resources of Westland were essential to the Dominion, and white pine was required by the dairying industry. The question of continuing the railway south must be reviewed. He understood that the General Manager of Railways (Mr G. H. Mackley) had been down there, and had valuable knowledge of the bush lines and the rolling stock employed. No doubt he would give the matter some attention. At any rate, the timber would have to be got out, in the most economical way possible. Such problems would have to be gone into very soon. Once the bush was cut and' cleared, there would be for land settlement, as had been pointed ou,t by Mr O’Brien. The Minister said that he understood the dairying produce of Westland had not only exceeded anticipations, but for quality was among the best in the Dominion. It seemed to him that there was an even greater future than the great past for Westland. The past was one of romance, associated with alluvial gold-digging. It was hard to believe that there had been at one time 20,000 or more people living around Ross. There was really all the romance of the Australian and Californian goldfields to be found on the West Coast. The history of democracy in New Zealand had also been contributed to a great deal by men sent to Parliament from the West. Coast, the greatest of whom was the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon. Great as the past had been, said Mr Fraser, he her lieved, after listening to Mr O’Brien, that there was a still greater future for the West Coast. In the interests, nor. only of the West Coast, but of New Zealand, the resources upon which that future would be built must be developed.

DEI’UTATIONS RECEIVED. KAI ATA SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Introducing a deputation from the Kaiata School Committee, consisting of Messrs H. Campbell (chairman), Fletcher, and Bishop, Mr O’Brien said that they wished to put before the Minister the necessity for a new school building. The position was that they had 53 scholars, and the very small school was now overcrowded. They expected, early ■ in the New Year, to have 57 scholars. There was a possibility of settlement going ahead in the locality, and it looked as if a very much larger school was required. The present building was much out of date. It was taken to Kaiata from Kamaka, and goodness knew how old it -was. Ventilation and warmth had not been considered. Some of the windows could not be opened, and if others were opened, they froze everybody. Mr Campbell said that the Committee had been hammering away at the Canterbury Education Board, for* a larger school, but the Board had replied, stating that they could not do; anything in the matter, until next year’s roll-call was determined. That could be definitely stated now—they would have 57 children for the first term. There were two rooms in the pi esent building, separated by a partition, and there were two teachers. The building was 49 or 50 years old. The district was going ahead all the time, and another tour buildings were just being erected, while the sawmill had 15 or 20 years’ work ahead pf it. There were railway people living in

the vicinity, and it was also a farming district. Land was being cut up for building, and there had been a lot of inquiries for sections in the past six months. It was only two and a-half miles from Greymouth. fi'he Minister said that it might be worth while considering whether the children would not be given a better chance if I hoy were sent to the Greymouth schools, where they would get a teach?!- )',>;• each class, which might lead to a. better education. Consolidation of schools was going on very rapidly, particularly in the Auckland district, and the Department could scarcely keep pace with the demands. Parents felt that they wanted something better for their children than one- or two-teacher schools. It would Ise advisable for the Kaiata parents to think the matter over from that aspect. Mr Campbell said that it would be very awkward to get the children to Greymouth, as the trains were not suitable.

In that case, replied the Minister, it would involve road conveyance. He added that he did not know whether consolidation of schools actually meant a saving or a loss to the Department. In connection with some schools, it saved, and in others it lost. It was not a question of expense, because if the Department did not spend one way it spent another. The question was what would give the children the best chance. He assayed the deputation that he would go into the matter fully, and would get a report on the school. It looked to him, without having seen it, to be one of the oldest types of school. He would inspect it. personally before he left Gleymouth for the South. Generally speaking, they wanted to supplant old school buildings with modern buildings, as soon as possible, but they had to be taken in order of urgency. Nothing could be said for old, .obsolete schools. Mr Campbell returned thanks, on behalf of the deputation.

BRUNNER BOROUGH LEASES. HARBOUR BOARD CRITICISED The next deputation consisted of Messrs Smeaton (Mayor) and Barber, representing the Brunner Borough Council, who were introduced by Mr. O’Brien. Mr. Smeaton said that the subject they bad to bring before the Minister concerned the Greymouth Harbour Board. He was glad to see the Chairman (Mr. McLean) and the latest member of the Board (Mr. McKane) present. Possibly they might be able to get some assistance from .Mr. McKane; they had not been able to get any in-the past, from the majority of the Board. The Dobson township was situated on Harbour Board endowment. Prior to 1924, when all the leases expired, the rental was 10/- per annum per quarter-acre section. The Board, as constituted at that time, under the chairmanship of Mr. ,1. Steer, said that they were entitled to take advantage of the prosperity then prevailing in the locality, and they increased the rentals from 10/- to £4 in some cases. £3 in others, £2, 30/-, and in some back sections to £1 per annum. He thought he could claim that he had exhausted every possible method of getting that injustice rectified with the previous Government. In tact, said Mr. Smeaton, he became almost as well known as “Tim” up the river, with his land washed away! He was now appealing to the Minister, in the hope that the people would get justice. Another injustice was in connection wtih roading. If he held a block of land, and cut il up into sections, the first thing that the Lands Department or the Minister would insist upon was drainage and roading before he would be allowed to let the sections. The position in regard to the Harbour Board was entirely differ-1 ent. They simply let the sections, and 1

the Brunner Borough Council had to make streets and drains. The Borough Council had spent many hundreds of pounds in improving the Harbour Board's property, and did not get one shilling to assist them. Under the Harbour Board Act, they had no right of appeal. The Board could come along in 1945, when the leases would again expire, and increase the rentals to £lO per annum. There was no right to appeal, and the (inly right was to full compensation for improvements. He did not think there was another local body in New Zealand that suffered under such disabilities. Only recently, they sent a deputation to the Harbour Board, but were able to get nowhere. Mr. McLean said that 30/was not very much for a section. It was not. if they had plenty of money, but it. was a lot if they had not got it. That was the state of affairs at Dobson, owing to the condition of the mining industry. Huge amounts were owing in rentals on sections, and there was no hope of the working-men being able to meet their liabilities in that connection. It meant writing off. They had no quarrel with the members of the Harbour Board, as men. They Iliad treated the tenants very well during the distressed years. They had not summoned them, although they had threatened to do so. The Brunner Borough Council was asking that the Greymouth Harbour Board Act. be amended to allow the Board to make grants lor the roading of the township, for drainage, and also to provide some means whereby the Council could appeal against what they considered was injustice. Blaketown was also Harbour Board endowment. In that locality, he understood, the Board did the roading, because it was reclaimed land; but, because Dobson was situated on original land, the Brunner Borough Council had to make the roads. At Heathdale (Taylorville), another portion of the Board’s endowment, the sections fell due for re-leas-ing at the same time, but the Board simply put the rental at 10/-. The same thing happened at Stillwater, but at Dobson, where the mine had started operations, higher rentals were put on the working-men. On every ton of coal produced from the mine at Dobson, the Board at. that time collected a royalty of 9d per ton on the large output. Some reduction had been made since to the. coal-owners by the Board. The Board received revenue from every ton of coal, but the Brunner people received nothing in return, except a bit of a donation for a cricket ground, library, or tennis court. Some years ago. the late Sir Joseph Ward I gave a definite promise that, if the Harbour Board would consent, to an amendment, he would immediately introduce it.

Mr. Barber said that the matter was one of a contentious nature, and had been so to the Brunner residents for a considerable period. The residents generally seemed to be very displeased with the method in operation at present. The general opinion amongst the people living in the mining comimunity. so far away from Greymouth, I was that they could not conceive why I the Harbour Board should have the right to collect rentals from the ground there. Something should be done to make the sections freehold. The householders paid rates to the Brunner Boroiigh Council, in addition to the payments to the Harbour Board. At one time the matter was brought up in Wellington before the then Minister, Mr. Murdoch. After the facts were explained. Mr. Murdoch said that if the statements made were correct, he would not hesitate for a moment to bring in legislation to alter the state of affairs. However, there was a “bit of juggling” in the Ministry at that time, and nothing was done. The residents could quite understand the position, if the Harbour Board endowments were right at the port, but. being so far away from the port, they considered that something should he done for them. He hoped that the Minister would give the matter his earnest consideration.

CASE FOR THE BOARD. Mr. McLean said he desired to associate himself with the Mayor in extending a welcome to the Minister. So far as the Harbour Board was concerned, “his worthy friend, the Mayor of Brunner,” had somewhat taken him unawares. He did not know the deputation was coming before the Minister. otherwise he should have been prepared with some figures. He thought that the Minister was well J acquainted with the Greymouth Harbour Board, and what it had had to contend with, particularly in the taking away of some of its endowments. One was the Grey-Brunner railway endowment, for which the Board received nothing for a considerable number of years. They were pleased to say that they had now got the finances of the Board into a reasonable state in one respect, seeing they had been relieved of their liabilities. In connection with the Dobson leases, that had been a matter of contention, and he appreciated the difficulties of the Brunner Borough Council, as outlined .by Messrs Smeaton and Barber. At I the same time, the Harbour Board had 1 its difficulties. There were a few sections on which the rentals were £4 and £3, but they were on the main highway through the township. Speaking from memory, the Board had about [ £BOO outstanding in rentals on the Dobson leases, and it had received only about £BO. The Board was not in a. position to road, drain, and put water on the sections, with the revenue available. It was a big proposition/ The coal-mining industry had had a bad time for some years, and the Board ' had in every instance extended leniency in regard to the section rentals. Some of the holders had disappeared, and their leases bad to be cancelled. The Board contended that £1 per annum was not out of the way for a section on which a man had his home. The Board had been forced into making the charges, owing to the depleted harbour revenue. The Board paid a considerable amount in rates io Ihe Brunner Borough Council, on unoccupied sections. The Board’s duty ■was to keep the port open, and they had had a stiff job to do so. He appreciated the position of the Brunner Borough Council, but at the same time the Board had to keep tip its end m the stick, and keep the port open with the money available. If the Board couid do anything to assist the residents. it was out to do so. The Board’s finances were depleted by the National Economy Act, and it was only lasl year, through the assistance of Mr. O’Brien and others, that they got matters into shape. The Board had tried to meet the Dobson people, so far as possible, but he did not think that £1 per year was a high price for a section. Even £3 or £4 was not high for some of the sections. The Board had never gone to extremes in order to force the payment of the rentals. If they had to put in roads, footpaths, and water, the sections would not be an asset to the Board. The latter couid not make bricks without straw. Perhaps some Government assistance might be given in the matter. The Board would be willing to submit a.report to the Minister.

Mr. Smeaton said that if the Board would agree to a rental of £1 per annum for ail the sections in Dobson ‘ there would be no objection from the tenants. The objection was against higher rentals for sections off the main road. The statement that the working people could not pay the present rentals was justified by the fact that £BOO was owing. The Minister said that they could not expect him to express an opinion on such a matter, which was coming before him for the first time. He was ' interested, as Minister, because har- ' hour legislation came into the purview : ot the Marine Department. In addi- 1 tion to that, however, it was also a lands question, and the Lands Depart- ' ment would have to he consulted on ' the respective inerjts of the Borough Council and Harbour Board views. '

Messrs Smeaton and Barber had placed the case for the mine workers very cogently and forcibly. They considered that the rentals were high. The Harbour Board had a difficult job to keep the port clear, in order that the coal could be shipped. The problem required looking into very closely. Messrs O’Brien and Webb were both involved in the matter. It might be possible for the Brunner Borough Council and the Harbour Board to

come to some amicable arrangement. Things might begin to look up in the •district, and perhaps the bar would behave itself better, and give Mr. McLean a chance for readjustment. In any case the matter required careful investigation. He would be pleased to accept Mr. McLean’s offer of a report, and it would be passed on to the Lands Department. He would also be pleased to have full details in writing from Mr. Smeaton. Ultimately, the matter might have to come before a Committee of the House, in the form of a petition. He would look into the matter, with a view to seeing what could be done for all parties concerned. Mr. O’Brien thanked the Minister, on behalf of the deputations, for the hearing he had given them. A private deputation was then received by Mr. Fraser.