WESTLAND ELECTORATE

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1929, Page 2

WESTLAND ELECTORATE

Ministerial Replies The following Ministerial replica, have been received by Mr Jas. O’Brien, M.P., concerning representation? made on behalf of the Westland elec torate: — WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. Dear Sir, —On the 29th January a deputation from the Westland Timber Workers* Union, introduced by your self, waited upon me urging, inte- alia, that the Workers Compensation ’ Act should be amended to provide that when a worker is off work, as a reult of an accident, payments of compensation should be made fortnightly; it was stated that “sometimes the men had to wait months for their money.’’ I have looked int 0 this matter, and find that to meet eases of delay Section 41 of the Act provides that the Court may direct payment of interest at 0 per cent, on the amount due, as from the date of the injury. I will, however, look into the question whe-; the r the section should be made more; effective. It will also be noted from Section 5 of the Act that compensa tion should be paid either in a lump •um or by weekly payments. If the complainants will furnish me with par ticulars of any cases where it is coni side-red that there has been unneces sary delay in the payment of compensation I shall be pleased to have inquiries made into the matter. —(Signed) W. A. Veitch. Minister of Labour. ROSS TOWN SECTIONS.

Dear ft ir, —Referring to the interview on the Ist ult, between my col league, the Hon Mr Veitch, and the members of the Robs Borough Council (introduced by you), on the subject at adding leases issued under Section 43 of the Mining Act, 1908, to the classes ’and on which money may be advanced by the State Advances I desire t 0 say that I have- been in communication with the State Advances Superintendent in regard to the matter. The Superintendent has advised me that the leases in question ar« similar to business-site licenses under The Mining Act, 1908. This last-mentioned class of license is, however, not an eligible security under the State Advances Act. It is. therefore, not considered advisable to include leases is ued under Section 43 as securities for loans unde r the Advances Act. —(Signed) W. A. Veitch, for the Minister of Finance. HARIHARI.

Dear Sir, —I beg to refer to your interview with my colleague,, the Hon Minister of Labour, at Harihari, on the Ist inst, when you introduced to the Hon Minister members of the local Farmers’ Union, with a request that the Harihari Education Reserve b* 1 subdivided for closer settlement. This matter has been under consideration for some time, but a final decision as to the expediency or otherwise of sub dividing the reserves will not be arrived at until they have been inspected by the Under Secretary for Lands who will visit the district as Foon as possible. The main question to he considered is whether the land could

be offered fo r selection at a reasonable rental after loading on to the capital value of the block all expenses of subdivision, including reading, survey, and possibly river protection.—(Signed) Geo. W. Forbes, Minister of Land’, GREENSTONE - LAKE- BRUNNER ROAD.

Dear Sir—Referring to the repre sentations, concerning the above-men-tinned road, which were made to ihe Hon Minister of Mines bv M r Me Lean, when he was at Kumara on 31st January last, I have to advise that the position concerning this road ha’ been inquired into, and I finfl that the whole length of this road has just recently been put in order by the Grey County Council. I presume, therefore, that the difficulties complained of by Mr McLean will not now exist.—(Signed) E. A. Ransom Minister of Public Works.

EVANS CREEK VELEPHONE. Dear Sir—With fuHthe r reference to the deputation of settlers introduced by you tn the Hon Mr Veitch at Evans Creek on the Ist ult, regarding telephone communication between Evans Creek and Hokitika: I beg to Inform you that a careful record has been kept, over a certain period, 'of the amount of traffic passing over the circuit between Hokitika and Ross. The return ehows That the longest time the line was occupied during any particular hour was 35 r.Jnutes, and that the average delay on the total number of calls was only about 10 minutes. The calls from Creek were shown to be few in number, and the average delay wag very slight. In the circumstances, I regret that the expense involved in acceding to the re quest for an additional line between Ross and Hokitika is not warranted.— (Signed) Jas. B. Donald, Postmaster General. RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Dear Sir—With reference to the representations which you made to me recently regarding the question of carrying out light repairs in the vork shops at Greymouth, I desire to say that it is intended under the reorganisation of the workshops that the following work shall be carried out in Greymouth:—• Light repairs to cars and waggons. Light repairs to locomo fives, which will be done at the new Elmer Lane running shed. Re pairs to hydraulic eranes on wharves. Repairs to hoppers and “fell” vans in the district. Repairs for maintenance and stores branches, including scales, etc, i?j the district.

This is the fullest measure of work that can be economically left at Grey mou h.. and sufficient staff will, of course, remain there to enable works of the kind mentioned to be dealt with. I trust that this will be quite satisfactory to you. —(Signed) ThomasM. Wilford, for Minister of Railways. NGAHERE REQUEST. Dear Sir, —With reference to your representations on behalf of the residents of Ngahere, regarding their do sire to obtain a suitable section for the purpose of erecting a public hall, I desire to inform you that arrange-

ments have now been made to lease to the Hall Committee, at a nominal rental a sui able site for the hall.— (Signed) W. A. Veitch, for Minister of Railways. MATANUI POST OFFICE. Dear Sir, —In reference to the representations that were made to the Minister qC Labour at Matanui 0:1 3rd Febri»*,-v by a deputation of mem pers of the Wataroa Farmers’ Union introduced by yourself, in support of he desir e that money order facilities should be provided at the Matainui poet and telephone office, I beg to in form you that inquiry goes to show that he Storekeeper-Postmaster at Mataiimi is not favourably disposed towards conducting a money order and savings bank branch. The Postmaster is, however, about to resign his position; and an endeavour will be made to have his successor agree to conduct numey order and savings bank facilities., I shall communication with you in the matter at a later date.—(Sign ed) Jas. B. Donald, Postmaster-Gene rai. OKTJRU HARBOUR. Dear Sir, —With further reference to your letter of 15th February, on the subject of equipment for Oku ru Harbour, I beg to advise you that, on consideration of your represen rations, 1 have authorise,d the expenditure of the necessary money to provide: (1) A higher flagstaff; (2) two smaller and handier beacon lights; (3) aew beacon rods; (4) two new mooring piles, in a position pointed out to the Engineer by Captain Bald, where there is deeper water in which the vessel can moor.

It is not considered necessary to send the full set of international code signal flags t 0 this port. The signalman has already been supplied with the flags ciesessary to assist ships en tering the port. As regards the supplying of paint, kerosene, etc, for maintenance works, the signalman should requisition for what he wants for this purpose, and the question of supply will then be considered. As regards the question of reinstating the beacon light at Hokitika, this port is under the control of the Hokitika Harbour Board, to which the necessary representations should be made.— (Signed) John G. Cobbe, Minister of Marine.