PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13672, 13 February 1908, Page 6

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR.

ARRIVAL AT PAEROA. THE SILTING UP QUESTION, [FROM ovs, special ; correspondent] Paeroa, Wednesday. The Prime Minister and Lady Ward left To Aroha this morning by motor car for Paeroa, arriving here at noon. They were formally welcomed by Mr. W. G. Nicholls (chairman of the Obinemuri County Council). The Paeroa cadets and school children were lined up in front of the .hotel, and a large number of residents took part in the reception ceremony. In the afternoon Sir Joseph devoted an hour to receiving deputations, ■ introduced by Mr. 11. Poland, M.P. The principal one was in connection with the sil ting-up of the Ohincmuri River, portions of which the Prime Minister had inspected before lunch. Mr. W. G. Nicholls, in stating the case, said that since the river was proclaimed a sludge channel in 1895 over 3,000,000 tons of tailings had been put into it by the mining companies, and there were still 35,000 to 40,000 tons pcV month being put in. As a consequence the river was being gradually, but surely, filled up. This meant the destruction of navigation, which would affect settlers from Thames to Te Aroha., who got their goods mostly by water. It also meant the destruction of the drainage of the district by the tailings filling up and raising the bottom of the river, and the destruction of the lands occupied by the settlers.. When the river was tilled up the water would go on to the whole of the surrounding flats, which meant practically ruining all the settlers in the district. It would also affect the lands of the Government. He had been informed by the engineer in charge of the drainage of the Piako Swamp that that drainage would bo interfered with if the silting of the liver was not stopped. Mr. S. Laughlin (chairman of the Netherton Fanners' Union) spoke on behalf of the settlers. He pointed out that the mining companies 5 right to put the tailings into the river was not disputed, but their right to put them into their land was questioned. He suggested that the solution of the trouble would be to provide' the placing of the tailings on a piece of waste laud through an aqueduct. , Mr. A.: C. Hubbard (chairman of the Thames Valley Dairy Factory Company) spoke of the ill-effechs to the dairy industry by impoverishment of the lands by tail-

jngs. '.'. Mr. E. W. ■ Porritt urged that the Government should subsidise some practical scheme for the utilisation of the tailings, such as their conversion into bricks of a commercial value. Such a scheme had been put forward. lii reply, Sir' Joseph said he knew this matter was of vital importance to the residents of the district. It was receiving very close attention, and the Government would assist any practical scheme. They did not, however, want to take the course suggested for the utilisation of the tailings, to find afterwards that the intention of the experiment had not been realised. They wanted to be sure that the brick industry suggested could be established at a moderate price, to ensure the successful carrying on of the enterprise, and that the bricks were equal to ordinary bricks now obtainable. If the Government could prevent the destruction of the settlers' lands and preserve the river, and at the same time contribute. towards an industry with a good chance of success, they would be prepared to give a considerable contribution, running into several thousands. (Applause.) He considered, however, that there should be some cooperation between the two local bodies interested, and who were receiving between them about £21,000 per year for the gold revenue. They had a responsibility in this matter. He hoped before very long to be able to submit a practical proposal to solve the silting-up difficulty.- There was, too, a duty on the gold mining ■ companies. When the Ohmemuri River was proclaimed a sludge channel it was never intended that, as one of the natural rivers of the country, it should be filled up and destroyed. Though it was right that the interest*! of the mining, companies should be fostered, there was no doubt that when the country realised that this destruction was going on in connection with the Ohinemuri River and the surrounding lands, it would become a question whether there should not be a modification of the law on the lines of preventing the putting of the tailings into the river, or assisting in the handling of them. (Applause.) The old question of Paeroa leaseholds, which the owners desire to convert into the freehold, also cropped up, and Sir Joseph said the matter was now before the Cabinet.. A request for a flag station at Waitoke was refused by the Prime Minister, there being a station within two miles thereof.

KARANGAHAKE DEPUTATIONS. The deputations having concluded their business, Sir Joseph motored out to Kara- , ngahake, where he received several more: He was asked to provide for the opening of the local post office for postal and telegraphic business between the hours of seven p.m .and eight p.m., many miners being unable to attend at the office before five p.m., the present closing hour. A letter carrier to deliver letters once a day was also asked for. In this connection it was pointed out that 15,000 letters per quarter were distributed from the office. A bicycle for telegraph boys was requested/ on account of the distance between the station and telegraph office. Another request/ was " for an automatic signal at the Ka'rangahake end of the railway tunnel. -Two accidents had already ;-'. been caused there through trains coming out of the tunnel, frightening horses. With regard to postal hours, Sir Joseph promised to arrange what was asked as soon as _ possible. He said he would give instructions for the letter delivery required, if the figures quoted were found to be correct. If the telegraph delivery was unusual he would give effect also to the request for a bicycle for messengers. He would refer the matter of the railway signal to the -Minister for Railways. In reply to an application that the Government should acquire the Raratn township of about 100 acres for the purpose of erecting workers' homes thereon, Sir Joseph said that the matter should receive consideration. It would be necessary for the owners of the township named to put into writing a price for the same. The .miners should also make it clear whether, j in the event of the Government acceding to the request, they would take up the i workers' homes. If so, and ii the purchase price was reasonable and would per- } mit of low rentals being charged, it would I be favourably considered. In connection with the petition of Karangahake residents for the formation of a borough, Sir Joseph was asked to expedite a settlement of the question. In reply, he stated that the petition was in the hands of the Minister for Internal Affairs, and he would ascertain the cause of the delay. He considered they were justified in trying to get local government for the purpose of getting good roads and sanitary conditions. . The Karangahake branch of the Miners Union also brought certain matters before the Prime Minister, amongst other things contending that 12 months' work .underground was not sufficient to qualify a man for a mine manager's certificate. It was urged that the qualification period should be extended to five years. Questions as to accident insurance were also referred to by the union's deputation, The Prime Minister said that no one in a responsible Government position bad recommended a on© year's underground qualification for mine managers. The Government would not agree to anyone receiving a certificate on such a qualification entitling him to take charge of mines in which human lives were at stake. The insurance matters referred to would duly be considered. At the request of his audience, which by this time liad been swelled to large proportions by the advent of miners coming off the day shift, Sir Joseph delivered a, 20*

minutes' upeech, in which .be gave- an exposition of the general, policy of the Government. ~ A vote of thanks was accorded to mm, and he then returned to Paeroa, where, m the evening he gave an address before an audience that filled the Criterion Theatre. It was largely upon the lines of his policy speech in Auckland recently. He dealt with the prosperity of the Dominion, and the legislation of recent years, particularly referring to the iand laws, taxation, and tenure. Figures were quoted in support of a contention that the tariff alterations had benefited everybody in the .country. He touched on the questions of the protection of infant life, immigration and finance (herein taking the opportunity of comparing conditions' in New Zealand with those in America to-day. At the close of the Prime Ministers address, Mr. Forrest, chairman of the'Paeroa branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation, moved a vote of thanks to Sir Joseph, and a vote of. confidence in him as Prime Minister, and in the Government. This was seconded oy Mr. Cock arid carried by acclamation. Cheers were given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. A banquet tendered to the Prime Minister by the chairman and members of the County Council, followed.

WAIHI ARRANGEMENTS. fCV TECEGRAI H.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Wednesday. Arrangements have been c C pleted _in connection with the Prime Minister's visit to Waihi. It is anticipated that Sir Joseph Ward and party will reach Waihi about two o'clock to-morrow, and the Mayor (Mr. Thomas Gilmour), town clerk (Mr. H. D. Morpeth), and members of the Borough Council will welcome the Prime Minister to the township at Meyer's Hotel. On arrival addresses of welcome will also be made by Messrs. H. T. Armstrong (president of the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union) and I). Donaldson (president of the local branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation). Deputations will follow' and in the evening Sir Joseph will deliver a public address in the Academy of Music. This will be followed by a social at Meyer's Hotel. On Friday morning the party will leave by the 9.40 train for Thames.