HON. T. MACKENZIE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXI, Issue LXII, 8 April 1911, Page 5

HON. T. MACKENZIE.

ROADS FOR SETTLERS FIRST TOURISTS AFTERWARDS.

[By Telegraph :—Special to Stab.] TE KUITI, April 8. The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie arrived here to-night from Mokau river, where he had been to look into the question of reserving portions of the very fine bush on the banks of the river. He was welcomed by Mr Jas. Boddie, Mayor, and the members of the Borough Council. Several local wants were brought under his notice.

In the course of one of .the deputations Mr Boddie, as County Councillor and Mayor, and Mr Lusk, as ex-chair-man of that body, advocated the construction of a second road to the Waitomo Caves. It was pointed out that the County Council were metalling a road which struck a point, viz., at Oparure, four miles from the Waitomo Caves, and they asked that this four miles be constructed. If this were done it would give a more direct connection with Te Kuiti than did the present road via Hangatiki. In replying, Mr Mackenzie said there was no prospect of the request being complied with, as there was the Hangatiki road to Waitomo Caves. The settlers this road also served had taken a poll for metalling it, and in this connection the Government and settlers had mutually agreed to divide the expense. It was quite contrary to the policy of the Government, added the Minister, to give tourist routes any preference whatever. The opposite was the case. There were numbers of settlers without road communication, or with poor road communication, and until they were better provided the Government would not be able to see its way to entertain making tourists roads, especially in the present instance, when the request practically meant a second road, to a tourist resort when there was already one.

The Minister attended the Te Kuiti Dog Trial Club's banquet, and left at 2 a.nu by the Main Trunk express for Wellington.