The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1925. DEVELOPING THE MOUNTAIN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 28 August 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1925. DEVELOPING THE MOUNTAIN.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock 'o Hawern, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltharo, Maugatoki, Kaponga. Alton, Ilurleyvilie, Pates, Waveriey. Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, an Ararata.

Someone probably would have fainted had the Prime Minister replied to the Mount Egmont deputation yesterday by granting- the £28,000 asked. It is not customary for Alinisters to do things like that, least of all Prime Alinisters, who realise that, the onlyway to keep tjie country from bankruptcy and the Government, from defeat. is to cultivate the habit of saying “No” with a, smile.. It was not to be expected that the Government would agree to any. expenditure, however small, without further inquiry; yet neither the National Park Board nor the South Taranaki Automobile Association has reason to be other than satisfied with the reception accorded yesterday ’s deputation. Air Coates expressed liis readiness to look over the proposals submitted, and to consider whether the necessary money could be borrowed; and he has undertaken to place the proposed high-level roadway on the list of works to be surveyed. Nothing more could have been, granted at this stage. As regards the use of prison labour for the construction of “the finest drive in the world,” the Prime, Minister reminded the deputation that even prisoners cannot be employed without expense; but he did not challenge the claim that a highway along the flank of the mountain, linking the North and South houses, would lie a national asset; and he seemed impressed by the suitability of such work for prison labour. The' item afforestation in. the Park Board’s ’scheme of proposed works is one which should commend itself to the Government, for it is evidence of the long view which is being taken of this national trust of preserving and developing Egmont. Admittedly £28,000 is a large sum of money; but the Avliole amount -would not be expended in one year, and all of it would be reproductive. “Tell the world ’ ’ is the advice of visitors from abroad who have discovered our scenic glories; and we arc beginning lo toll the world. But the natural result of publicity overseas will be to bring the world, to our shores, and we must be prepared 'then to receive it and to exhibit to best advantage the splendours of mountain, bush and river with which Nature has endowed our enchanted isles. The money which the Egmont National Park Board hopes to receive from the Government, will go —every penny of it- —into that work.