THE PRIME MINISTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13683, 26 February 1908, Page 8

THE PRIME MINISTER.

TOUR OF NORTHERN TOWNS.

RAILWAYS AND NATIVE LANDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—-SPECTAI CORRESPONDENT.]

' * . . - Kawakawa, Tuesday. The Prime Minister was early astir this HGorninsr. and inspected the bridge at Grahamtown, making the journey by motor launch before breakfast. Accompanied by Lady Ward,, he caught the ordinary train at eight m. for Hukerenui, en route for Kawakawa.' A large number of deputations were taken by the wy.

At Hikurangi' Mr. F. Mander, member for the district, introduced a deputation of local residents, headed by Mr. Win. Carter, who asked for a new post office to answer the needs of the growing district. The Prime Minister said he would obtain a report on the amount of business being done at Hikurangi, and if there was justification for it he would see if the request could be acceded to.

Mr. J. A. Johnson, president Of the local branch of the Miners' Union, requested that the time for notifying the Mines Department in case of accident be extended to 14 days. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the whole matter was being gone into by the Mines Department. At Whakapara and Hukerenni the party were welcomed by the school-children and cadets, and at both places Sir Joseph briefly addressed the children. Hearty welcomes were extended to the Minister and Lady Ward by the residents also. • HUKERENUI DEPUTATIONS. A stay of about half an hour was made at Hukerenui, where, several deputations were heard. Mr. Hill asked that some assistance should be given to improve the main road between Whakapara and Towai. Sir Joseph said he would inquire as to how the vote for the work stood, and if the money was there he would see that it was authorised. Mr. Clark made a request for a post office apart from the store where business was carried on at present. The Prime Minister promised to look' into the matter. WANTS OF TOWAI. Sir Joseph Ward subsequently journeyed by motor car to Towai, where a busy time was spent in receiving deputations. Amongst other requests made it was asked by Mr. R. R. Forsyth that. Towai should be made into a separate county riding. Sir Joseph said he would make inquiries and see what could be done. Mr. Forsyth further appealed on behalf of the residents to nave the telephone wire between Towai and Kawakawa re-erected, to obtain communication. The Prime Minister said he would give instructions to have the service reinstated. Better terms for the opening up of the Government flax swamps were asked, it being stated that the present terms upon which these tracts were leased to millers were absolutely prohibitive. The Prime Minister said he would communicate with, the Minister for Lands and have the matter brought up for consideration as soon as possible. ; ;, Cheers were given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward as they left for Kawakawa. AT KAWAKAWA. The party reached Kawakawa in time for lunch, the Prime Minister and Lady Ward being the guests of the . Bay of Islands County Council. A cordial welcome was extended to the visitors by Mr. Houston, the member for the district. A number of deputations were taken immediately afterward, the residents turning out in strong force to urge their claims upon the Government. ■■■■■■'(.'■ The completion of the gap between Kawakawa and Hukerenui, to give the district railway communication with Whangarei, was urged. Sir Joseph Ward said that the present vote on the Estimates would .be expended during the recess. h Mr. Vernon Reed'asked that the Kawa-kawa-Hokianga railway extension be authorised. The Prime Minister said this mat' ter would require to be dealt with when the Government was dealing with fresh authorisations. In the meantime he could not promise that new railways should be undertaken. Mr. ■ Horace Williams ■: asked that, provision be-, made for the more rapid opening up of native^ lands for settlement. Sir Joseph said there was legislation to deal with this matter. : A reduction of fares and freights on the Kawakawa-.Opua teetion was requested, together with a daily train service. The Prime Minister said the earning powers of this line had to be taken into consideration. At present the line was not paying, and he did not think the remedy lay in running more trams The request would be laid before the Minister for Railways. Late in the afternoon the Prime Minister visited the railhead., from the Kawakawa end, some 10 miles distant from the township. He was accompanied on the ! trip by members of the County Council, district residents, "and the local schoolchildren. '-...'.."": -..'.:■' Sir Joseph addressed another large meeting at Kawakawa to-night, and met with a. cordial reception. The chairman of the County Council (Mr. Williams) presided. The address .traversed the remarks made at other centres for the most part. - During the next five years the Government was determined, said the speaker, to do more in the direction of helping the backblock settlers. Reverting to his claim that the Bay of Islands was by no means the worst treated of electorates, he said the total amount of money voted for their district during last year was £17,023. of 'which amount £11,462 was new money. Altogether, the sum of £1,000,000 had been borrowed, which, divided amongst 80 constituencies, worked out at over £12,000 apiece. Sir Joseph referred to the large areas of native land around Kawakawa with which little was being done. The new legislation would enable portions of that land to be thrown open lor settlement, while at the same time the natives would never be landless in the future. !

On the motion of Messrs. W. Stewart and F. McKenzie the' meeting accorded a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker and confidence in the Government, with him as its leader. Hearty cheers were given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, and the party departed for Russell half-an-hour later. ,