MINISTERIAL TOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1939, Page 4

MINISTERIAL TOUR

VISIT TO HOKITIKA WESTLAND DEPUTATIONS The Minister of Public Works (Mr. Semple) and the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) concluded their tour of the West Coast, yesterday, with a visit to Hokitika. On the journey from Greymouth to Hokitika, a stop was made at Arahura, and an inspection made of the flood protection works in the Arahura River. Visits were paid to the Arahura and Kanieri gold-dredges, and a number of deputations were also received. One deputation asked Mr. Semple for a grant for draining and grassing the Kaihinu school ground. The Minister promised to take up the matter with the Minister of Education. Mr. Semple later inspected the Kanieri School, where improvement to the playground was also required, 'rhe danger of river erosion to the grounds was pointed out as being a serious matter. Mr. Semple promised to have the district engineer investigate the position, and furnish a report to him. On arrival at Hokitika, the Ministers were welcomed by Messrs J. A. Murdoch (County chairman), D. J. Evans (County Clerk), E. W. Heenan (chairman of the Westland Hospital Board), P. J. McLean (member of the Westland County Council), and W. F. Ashley (engineer), and were entertained at afternoon tea at the Hotel Westland. . HOKITIKA REQUESTS

A deputation consisting of Messrs M. H. Houston (chairman), F. Freitas and E. W. Heenan, members of the Hokitika Harbour Board, waited upon Mr. Semple, seeking assistance in remedying the silting up of the harbour entrance. It was pointed out that beyond the entrance a sand bank had formed, and this directed the outflow from the river along the beach behind the town. Serious difficulties were encountered by shipping in entering the port. At low tide that day there was only Ift Bins of -water on the bar. The proposal was to extend the north wallwith concrete blocks, and this was estimated to cost between £15,000 and £20,000. All that the Harbour Board could find was £2,000 and the Borough Council would find £l,OOO. Assistance by way of subsidy was sought in carrying out the work, which, it was stated, would prevent the possibility of flooding of the aerodrome and township in flood periods. The Minister viewed the area affected. He then requested the district engineer* of Public Works to prepare a report for his consideration. He would then make a decision as to whether any assistance could be given. Mr. Armstrong, on behalf of the Hokitika District High School Committee, sought a grant for the construction of a schools swimming bath, for which a sum of £2OO had been voted by the Education Department. The cost of materials was in the vicinity of £BOO. The Minister said he could make no grant from the Public Works Account, but possibly the Minister of Education might be prevailed upon to make an additional amount available, in view of the extra cost of material, compared with the original estimate. A grant for improvements in topdressing portion of the Hokitika High School Ground, at a eost of £4OO, was requested by Mr. Johnston headmaster.

Mr. Murdoch said that the High School Board had about £4OOO on fixed deposit and with the permission of the Minister, £2OO would be made available for this work, provided a similar amount in subsidy could be obtained.

Mr. Semple said he would recommend a vote of £2OO to the Minister of Education, and told the deputation to make application to the Education Department. Mr. A. Chapman on behalf of the Automobile Association, asked for assistance in providing turnouts on the Hokitika combined rail and traffic bridge, owing to the inconvenience caused to users. , The Minister said that an offer of a subsidy of £550 (£2 for £1) had been made, but the local authorities had not availed themselves of it. Mr. Chapman sought a free subsidy for one turnout. Mr. Semple said that as an experiment he would give a £3 for £1 subsidy this year for one turnout, provided the County Council and Borough Council found the fourth share between them.

OFFICIAL WELCOME. The Ministers heard several private and public deputations at the Westland County Council Chambers last evening. The Mayor of Hokitika, Mr. G. A. Perry, presided, and associated with him were Mr. J. A. Murdoch (Westland County chairman) and councillors. Mr. Perry, in welcoming the Ministers, expressed appreciation of their attention to Westland in respect to district requirements, particularly in regard to the advancement towards completion of the Main South Road to link Westland with Jackson’s Bay and Otago. Mr. Murdoch paid tribute to the excellent work of Mr. Semple as Minister of Transport, and to the untiring efforts of the member for the district, Mr. J. O’Brien. He was pleased to the success of the dredging industry on the West,Coast, and the assistance rendered in that direction by the Ministers in the way of providing electrical energy from Lake Coleridge. Mr. Semple said that anything accomplished was merely the carrying out of their plain duties. If the West Coast were the only place to look after, their job would be an easy one. Mr. Webb, in response, said that he was pleased to see the undertaking to bring power from Lake Coleridge proving such a success, and he paid tribute to the dredging company officials who kept their part of the contract in erecting and so successfully operating large dredges and employing a large number of men. Power had to be made available to encourage dredging on a big scale throughout the West Coast, and Lake Coleridge had fulfilled that want, thanks to the loyal co-operation of Mr. .Semple. WESTLANDS REQUIREMENTS. The Ministers met a large deputa- 1 tion of Westland settlers, which ad- ' vocated additional works, including an I extension of the railway to Wataroa. 1 A connecting road from the Dorothy i Fills at Lake Ranieri to the Upper) Kokatahi was claimed to have scenic, 1 value and to be needed for opening 1

up good dairying lands. The council offered to construct traffic bridges ot native timber over the Styx river and other essential 'crossings. Mr. Semple replied that no provision was made on this year’s estimate. He suggested that the expenditure would be more valuable on the building of a traffic bridge over the Teremakau river, and a deviation of two- miles to give a straight road, avoiding railway crossings. A grant for the Waiho Beach road was requested. Mr. Semple said the development of all potentialities would follow the opening of the Haast highway. Timber type of bridges tor secondary highways was advocated by the county council. The concrete bridge, replied Mr. Semple, was a policy measure of the Public Works Department; but the case of each bridge would be taken on its merits.

Consideration was being given, Mr. Semple said, to the building of a landing ground for aeroplanes at Hari Hari, land for which has been promised free by Mr. Robert Ferguson. An assurance that the highway through the Hari Hari and Wataroa townships would be sealed this Summer was given by the Minister. A request for a timber loading wharf at Bruce Bay, the cost to be recouped by export wharfage charges, was made to' Mr. Semple, who said the economics of the proposal appeared to be sound. A report by engineers on a wharf estimated to cost £22,000 was ready. If it coincided with the timber company’s report he would have no hesitation in recommending the work. Mr. J .A. Murdoch said the stand of timber at Bruce Bay was 900,000,000, the largest in New Zealand. Messrs M. Wallace, W. Jamieson and A. Dale spoke in support of the need for- extension of the electric power supply into the Kokatahi-Koiterangi district, in order to provide the farmers there with electric light and power for milking machines. It was pointed out that the power in the district was supplied by a private company. The Minister said that for this reason he could not hold out much hope of rendering any assistance. He would, however, do- his best in an effort to assist these young farmers who were doing their utmost to bring farming lands into production on the right lines. The Westland County Council asked that authorities for the following votes al the recent session of Parliament, be authorised as early as possible to take advantage of the Summer months: Protection, Koiterangi Ford Road £266 (£2 for £1), Wataroa! Road Improvement £3OO (£2 for £l),l Toaraho Springs (additional) £l2OO, Gunn Road, forming and metalling £5OO (£2 for £l).. Protection, White’s 1 Road. Kokatahi £266 (£2 for £1). and Loopline Road, reforming and metal- , ling (£2 for £1). j

'Pho extension of the South Westland railway from Ross to Wataroa, a distance of 40 miles was brought before the Minister by Mr. D. J. Evans. Westland County Clerk, who stressed (lie great timber export and farming possibilities in South Westland. The Grey district exported annually 45,000,000 feet of timber and Westland only 30.000,000 feet, which indicated that a rail outlet for the South Westland timber resources was urgently needed. Mr. J. O’Brien said that 40.00".000 feet of timber in South Westland would ensure 40 years cutting, and by

that time the railway would have paid for itself. , Mr. Semple replied that a report by a committee from various departments was prepared, but had not yet been t considered by the Cabinet. He. would (have the report presented at an early I date to the Cabinet, and a. deputation could then travel to Wellington to I state the case for the railway. MINISTERS ENTERTAINED. Later the Ministerial party were the guests at a social evening and supper arranged by the Hokitika Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party and the various local bodies. Mr. J. Fox, president of the Hokitika Branch, presided over a large' attendance of citizens of Hokitika, and visitors from the surrounding districts. A number, of toasts were honoured and items' were rendered by Mrs. R. J. Smith, Miss Sylvia Smith, Mr. Arnold Perry,

Miss Joan Feeney, and Miss Zina Dowell. Miss D. Robinson presided at the piano. .Mrs. Semple was the recipient of a bouquet handed to her on behalf of the gathering by Miss V. Heenan.