MINISTERIAL TOUR.

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1914, Page 2

MINISTERIAL TOUR.

MR HERDMAN AT MAUNGATIIROTO.

NEW COURTHOUSE WANTED

Tclc»,r!ij'li.—-Press Association

PAPAROA, May, 5

The Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister of Justice) accompanied by Mr Gordon Coates, M.P., arrived here yesterday afternoon by way of Helensville, Kaiwaka, and Maungaturoto. It was Mr Herdman's first visit to the North, and the conditions under which he travelled were not of the pleasantest. At this time of the yea r the weather is usually a mixture made up" of sunshine (rare) and heavy rain, hail and thunder, and the Minister for Justice sampled the mixture very freely. Settlers of the back areas see a certain charm in the wet weather when a Minister of the Crov/n is travelling over some of the quagmires of the Far North. It gives the Minister some evidence of what . they endurw during the winter months when travelling over the wretched roads with their produce.

During his stay at Maungaturoto the for Justice received a large deputation, introduced by Mr Gordon Coates, in the unavoidable absence of Mr Mander, M.P. The main request made wag for the erection of a courthouse at Maungaturoto.

The Minister said that from what he had so far seen and heard of the district he recognised assistance should be granted the settlers commensurate with their needs. He would be glad to obtain a report on the matter on his. return to Wellington, and give "-the representations made careful ''Consideration.