Mr Semple Alive To Road Access Needs

Northern Advocate, 20 February 1939, Page 2

Mr Semple Alive To Road Access Needs

(From Our Special Reporter.)

"I am alive to the need of proper road access to your historic and wonderful corner of New Zealand," said the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, to a deputation Russell on Saturday evening, "but I have to study every suggestion and claim put before me by counties and local bodies, and it is my job to study the economic aspect of each job before I spend a copper.” Mr Semple and party arrived at Russell from Paihia in the late afternoon, being met by the secretary of the Russell branch of the Labour Party. Mr H. Wright; the Russell Town Board chairman, Mr W. Cowper Anderson; Mr J. Green, an old friend of Mr Semple; and Mr Paul Haskett.

Town Board Welcome

Mr Semple mel the deputations at a special meeting of the Russell Town Board, there being present Commissioners W. Cowper Anderson, H. Somerville, T. Boucher and a number of residents.

After a welcome to Mr Semple and party, the Town Board chairman briefly outlined the requests being made by the. deputations for Ministerial consideration, these being the construction of the Russell-Wa ikai'eKawakawa deviation, the reinstatement of sittings of the Magistrate’s Court at Russell, the enlargement of Post and Telegraph premises to cope with increased business and increased staff, and the improvement of Flagstaff Hill roadway;

Mr Semple dealt with the: Waikare deviation first, and pointed out that while the survey of such deviations should have been attended to years ago, it was left to his Government to do that particular job. “The survey has been made, and I am now awaiting the report of my engineers as to' what the costs will be, and. then I will investigate the economic advantages and commercial value of the deviation. If I think it is warranted, then the road will go in. “Your present main highway to Whangarei may be improved to give the service you need, but some of the bridges I have crossed to-day belong to the bullock-dray period, and they will have to go.”

Motoring Popular.

Mr Semple then gave statistics of New Zealand’s motoring population, and. increases over the past two years.

“There are 50,000 more cars on New Zealand roads to-day than there were two, years ago,” ; said Mr Semple, “and the increased motor traffic requires improved methods. “This Government is faced with, the problem bf providing the necessary maximum road improvement in the minimum space of time, and we are attempting to do our best with the money we have at our disposal.” Mr Semple also gave a detailed description of the greatly improved methods of road and aerodrome construction and the great financial savings of modern methods.

Other Undertakings,

Mr Semple pointed out that the reinstatement of the Magistrate’s Court sittings was the responsiblity of the Department of Justice, and the Post Office improvement that of the Post-master-General. “There are hundreds of more important claims for necessary road access and road improvements,’’ said Mr Semple regarding Flagstaff Hill. “The Flagstaff Hill right-of-way was never meant to be any more than a means of easy and pleasant walking access to. a vantage point, and walking is good exercise. “I will consider the Waikare deviation on its merits, and if I think the new road is warranted then it will go through.” The chairman thanked Mr Semple for his hearing and said he had every confidence that the Minister would do the right thing with . regard to road access to Russell,

none during the hottest weather, delaying complete weaning until cooler days.

Indigestion

Indigestion, due to overfeeding, irregular feeding, or unsuitable food, is the main predisposing cause of diarrhoea. Therefore mother's should be always alert, especially during the summer. All habits should be regular, and children should not be given unsuitable foods or foods likely to disagree.

It is during the summer months, the .warmest time of the year, when travelling or away,from home, that the usual routine of both babies and older children is upset. Disordered digestion and consequent lowered resistance render them an easy prey to any infection.

Some hints on food for children when travelling were given in these columns a few weeks ago. When away from home make every effort to secure good fresh milk. Always boil it before using for the first few day.s. and continue to do so if there is any doubt as to the freshness of the supply. Spare no pains to keep all feeding utensils scrupulously clean. For older children beware of unsuitable foods, cakes, sweets, unripe or over-ripe fruit. Next week we shall go into simple treatment of a threatened attack of diarrhoea.