MINISTERIAL REPLY.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1925, Page 1

MINISTERIAL REPLY.

In response to the deputation of Ifarihnri fanners, which waited on the Ifon .Minister of .Minos last month re divertin'; Petersen Hoad. Mr JO’Brien M.P., Inis received tlie fnllowiim repiv from the Minister ol Public Works:—

“The Hon G. J. Anderson, Minister of .Mines, has referred to me lor consideration, with a request that my decisions in the matter he conveyed direct to yourself, particulars of representations made to him at Hariliari recently by a deputation ol local settlers, who complained that the Mostland County Council proposed to ex-

pend the vole of £oil on Peterson Hoad bv constructing it through private property. The deputation urged that the Council's proposal is not agreed to, but that the money be expended on the. present surveyed road. “Investigal ions regarding this matter have been made by my Dep.utment, and a report on the present position lias been submitted for m.v perusal. From this, it appears that some lime ago, there was a proposal by the Westland County Council to continue the formation ot this road from its present tetminus on the southern boundary of !?ection Block IV. Wat area Survey District, through Section 2529 to the road reserve' along the right hank of the Poerua or Little 'Wanganui River instead of adhering to the surveyed road which intersects Section *>29. and the adjoining Section -S3D. Ihis latter road, as already surveyed, is considered by far the better route, beinc on level permanent ground, am providing for future sub-division ot these two sections. ‘These facts arc in themselves sufficient to warrant a decision in favour of ttiis route apart from the Fact that the extension proposed by the Westland Countv would involve survey and land acquisition expenses. Moreover, tl, c River Bank Road Reserve with which the Council’s proposed road would junction is not considered, on account of its liability to erosion a suitable route for a permanent traffic r ° a -The Council was. therefore informed some 1-2 months ago both h> the District Engineer ot mv Department and by the Comnussmuei of Crown Lands, that its proposal could not be agreed to. and this information will no doubt re-assuro the setters who interviewed the Hon Mr Amlcr“The deputation also mentioned a vote of £nO which was stated to appear on the Estimates, but I would point out that the only item provided