Visit of Prime Minister.

Mt Benger Mail, 1 April 1914, Page 2

Visit of Prime Minister.

Un Saturday ihis district was favoured w nil a Hying visit [rtai u;o Prime Minister, lion. \S. F. Massey, who was accompanied by Mrs end Miss Masse}, our member, Air K. Scott,j the Kctorui organiser, Mr Fleming, and the Mini: ter s private secretary. liw party came per motor via Moa Flat, and paid a visit to Millers Flat tor the purpose of inspecting the bridge and river encroachments, and oi meeting a tation re same. A meeting oi Benger and L'eviot Railway :iud league was held at Mj sneehy's, Mr Roberts presiding, for the purpose of arranging matters in connection with the deputation. On arrival the Prime iiinister was met by the League ana a goodly, number of residents, and escorted to the bridge where -Mr -J. .Bennetts oroughi undei the notice of the hon. gentleman the encroacnments of the river and the great possibility of serious damage to the bridge and also to the residents of the district unless something were done to protect the bridge and road from these encroachments. The Public 'Aoiks engimer, iie .-aia, forwarded a report on the matter in which it was suggested that a pier lie put in, the wori to cost JtiDUO, hah ot which should bo provided by the Council. The Council were not satisfied with this and, per- • sonally, he considered it absurd. The Council had ao money to spend on • the road and were u washed away the livelihood of tlu residents would be cut oil. Speaking of the main road he .-aid the Council had not tne money to spend on it, the local iimds not being nearly sufficient to keep it in order. There was not three miles of it in good repair and certainly the back-blocks settlers should have something done to it. Messrs li. McDonald and 14. T. Stewart supported the p;e\ tous speaker the latter emphasising the fact that were suitable groynes put in in the proper position they would be effective und certainly cost considerably les., than the pier. The lion. \\v Massey -aid that cer- - tainly something should be done to stop the -.nciuavlniionts, bin they had I tiisir own local authority to look to. He advised them to send in an application to the Department for assistance and he would bring the matter before his colleague the Minister of Public Works. AT KO.YiilliGH. There was a large gathering of residents at the Commercial Hotel v. hen |he Alrmstriial party arrived a*d after lunch several deputations waited on the I'riiud Minister m connection with various necessary requirements. There was a iaige attendance ot gentlemen present and the deputations were introduced by Mr li. Scott. MAIN IiUAU THROUGH BOROUGH. His Worship expressed has pleasure at having the opportunity of meeting the lion. Ml' Mas.-ey. Tne Borough Council hud a stretch of about two miles oi the .Main Uoad running through the town to keep up which was used practically by tlu whole of the South Island. I'hey considered it a fair thing to ask the Government to assi.d in keeping h in good repair. They wanted a straight out vote cf £3t»U from the Governm nt. It was considered to b( oi national benefit and they solicited the Government's, sympathy. Councillor Craig supported the £" Mayor's remarks, pointing out that it wa« seven years ago smco any graftfc

had been received for this part oi road and then £IOO was jot. A grant would l>e very beneficial to the Borough. RAILWAY At THOMSATION. Mr Kinaston said Mr Massey was conversant with ihe needs of a railway for the district, which had been promised them In th< late Mr Seddon, who had told them to go home and plaul more trees as they jvould g t t the ' railway. Thousands oi pounds had ben put into the fruit growing industry which was of no use without th< railway. When the deputation wailed on the lion. Mr b'rascr the lain r advised them to _o home as ihe inilwaj va- in eooJ hands. Other districts were gi it in<j •, \.- li usiou of railw a\ s ami th '\ shoukl b treated likewise. Mr ttnigth s lid they want,-a to get an authorisation ihi- session for ihe. extension ot the line from Beaumont. They wa re at a distinct disadvantage to their neighbouring district which had railwn\ facilities. It meant that they had ti* loss oi Is cd per case compartnl wuli then' neignboui»s. The) wure smai .ai_ muler this injustice, ana an extension of th- line from !'eaicr>>il to Roxburgh would pLae.i them on tin same plane as o'Ai- t districts. Mr .1. Licnm Us congratulated tl e llvti Mr Mossey on Ins i levaliou to ih r position oi I i ime Mna-n r and Minister oi I.ana- ami said the railway was ih. it est iu.'d of this district, and on Un o,v! the succcs- ol fruit-growinsj industry. It was a laic disti ii ; for g< U ing eurh lambs but . it was dillii ult to get lii' ai to the niarkit. l'hej w »uld h- :ivall> djs appointed it ih re was no atulioi ih ation this sessh b. Ihe cue Mr r- '\.- don had told them to plaut trc.s, but tlrej could not coinp ii successfully with outside Jistri as t'nM _ were served with a railwaj us ihe latter could market their produee much cheaper .They wanted some practical .->■ idence ot ~! ; authori-ation. '>■ ith regard to the main road Mr B. a... •., - -:! k 1i; would he a few \ • ars bel m thi y would hav.' h railway and there fore ii was neci -ar\ that the maiu road should I e put 'in good ocler tor j motor irallic. lln re was no m< re | than three mih-s ot the road in good j order, the ' ouniv p-wmie l»ang_ inBiiflieient. A motion had bet n iiefore | the t'ouncil to ha\c th. road d. clar | rd a main road, but da— members , w h o oppos. Hit had a railway. It was no: fair taal n-hlents should ha\ i to put their hands in th ir po« - k ct, to provide transit facilities. Mr 11. I 'rati:, who laid been a car r i er f,., over twentv years, support- ,,| Mr Bennetts. A- ii wo ltd be some time before they trot the railway Bomething should In hone b\ ihetjovernmi n1 to ihe ro:nl whicii in >\ inter was abnti-t impassable. I '■■ re was pli nev " ! ' nn tal n\ ailable Inil the Count} i ouncil ! ad no money. Mi .!. Kwing als , suppo.n a tl. ,-oad rpicstion. lie had aad - .me TOD qi -no ti m i'f aat v. id i n cai t ' A er the road. He would preier "o have a orood roa i instead of railw iv, as the Government could not spntl ~ Irrgr amount of nam y Iko ing" •" in im calls on it. I VNI). \\ v | \\ Michelle : aid the bud question was tl e most importaul _ m the Dominion. Jln land was oi no ; use unless It was made (o produce, ■,. l,ich was almost useh ss unless some m JS as wv.e provided to get the pro,i,; ojC\ market. I here were a few large estates in the district, than whi.t th.ae wen not liefer lands in the li. anna, m Teviot station and Hillspring station. L'hey wanted to know the [losition n garding ihe land. This was one oi the oldest districts tad yet it was one of th : im.st isolated of d>e older districts fr the s. a board. Mi I'. Vndn w uppoi u a Mr Michelle j ÜB d congratulate ! iho lb u. MrMassey I and his (iov. rument uii ih. ir elioris in j grant ng the freehold. lie expressed the hojie that th. 1 rime Minister j would give th in a -naughtforward answer on the imestion. M.W UUAB Messrs A. 11. l-amblyn, J Hani ,\ W. Bain u ud 11. A. Lamblyu waited un th i Prime Man ter ior a road j from Ktl ri. k through Moat lai, at a |

cost of somo L3UUU. Mi A. 11. lain blyn pointed out that thus road was au outlet for their produce going 5 ,uth and would ma *e the 11 ip to KdicvaL mu< h shorter, lie would like iheui In i" ar in miud that the) were not antugonisl ie but Lhat the north and South btisines - were quite distinct, henci this application.

In reply to the various deputations Hon. Mr Masscy said the Govermm at had to consider expenditure lrom a point of view of the whole coumtry. There had been CIIO,OOO spent on the line to lieaumont and it had earned nothing ii"! would it till it- was brought Marei Roxburgh, fhi fruit growing was a big industry and the promise being made he was of opinion thai it should be done. Ii" would I consult his colleagues, and he coul i p.s me then; that the authorisation would receive favourable consid 'ration ~1" 1 abinel (applausei. They would _et th aui hori ni ion pact of way, ihu :oad warned improving so thai fruitgrowers could mai'kei their fruit much better. Thi Government would not accept the responsibility ol maul road until the railway was nearer Roxburgh, and then il would give its support, \\ ith regard to the lan 1 question, if there were estates in the distriet which the I lovei lira mt could pur. chase al a figure which would allow of settlers goine on them and making a living, then they would be prepare, i to buy. The Government would do its duty with regard to transit facilities. With re .-aid to the Moa Flat road end expenditure of £3OOO, he thought they were asking for a big tliitnj-, and we;, di\ aline; 1 heir energies. He would :d\ ise them not to press their roquesl bul concentrate their energies to gel the main road 'and railway. The grant for main road through the Borough v.,,aid be deal! with !ilon<i with the main road. The Government had to try to do justice to every part of the country. —(Applause.) Mr Scotl thanked the Prime Minister for receiving the deputations, and for bis promises. jf The party left shortly aftar for Alexandra amid cheers. f> ■ , ha *