MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3901, 11 June 1929, Page 5

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, received a most cordial reception on his arrival in Arrowtown on Friday afternoon last. He was given a civic welcome in the Council Chambers, a large number of town and country residents being present. The Borough Council was represented by His Worship the Mayor (Mr James Shaw) and Crs. Anderson, Jenkins, Gilmour, Summers and Tobin, and the Lake County Council by the chairman (Mr Leo Lee) and Cr W. S. Beid. The Mayor said that on behalf of the residents it gave him great pleasure to welcome the Hon. Mr de la Perrelle on his first visit to Arrowtown as a Minister of the Crown. This pleasure was added to by the fact that Mr Perrelle was a native of the town. He congratulated him on having attained Ministerial rank, and they were all sure he would worthily fill the honourable position in which he was placed. 'Mr Leo Lee, Cr W. S. Beid, and Mr G. H. Bomans (the oldest inhabitant present) also extended their congratulations. • Mr Perrelle said he had to thank them all most sincerely for the welcome they had given him. It was a happy moment in his life to be again amongst his old friends, and he greatly appreciated their welcome. The Mayor said that at the present time the Borough Council had no requests to make to the Minister, but Mr Lee and Cr W. S. Beid wished to make some requests on behalf of the Lake County Council. The Kea Menace. Mr Lee said that the first matter he wished to bring under the notice of the Minister was the suggestion that the Government should discontinue the subsidy paid for the destruction of keas. The fact that it was realised that the kea was a menace was shown by the sheepowners being agreeable to pay a subsidy of 3s for each bird for its destruction. At the present time the Lake County Council paid a subsidy of 2s for each bird killed, the station owners 3s and the Government subsidy amounted to ss. Up to the present the Lake County Council had paid out £696 in subsidy, which was a big tax on its revenue. Unassailable evidence could be produced of the ravages of the kea amongst sheep, and he asked, the Minister's support in having the Government subsidy continued* Other Matters. Mr Lee referred to the travelling expenses allowed County councillors. Formerly £1 per day, plus 6d per mile was allowed, but now the Audit Department would only allow lOd per hour and 8d per mile. Mr Lee also asked the Minister's support of an application for a grant of £750 towards the cost of the erection of a bridge over the Matukituki river. The bridge was estimated to cost £IOOO, and Mr N. Scaife had promised £250 towards the cost. Cr W. S. Beid supported Mr Lee's remarks regarding the kea, He said there was no doubt the kea was a menace, and if the subsidy was discontinued the kea would multiply, and take to the low country. He considered the kea menace was really a national question. The Minister's Beply. The Hon de la Perrelle said that from his knowledge of the district, and from the information he had obtained during his recent visit to the south, he was firmly convinced that the Govt, subsidy must be continued, and his efforts would be used in that direction. Begarding County councillors travelling expenses, he would look into the matter on his return to Wellington. He would place the matter of the grant for the MatuKituki bridge before his colleague, the Minister of Public Works. In conclusion, Mr Perrelle said he could assure them that any requests for the benefit of the district would always receive every consideration from him.