PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13780, 19 June 1908, Page 6

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR.

TE AWAMUTU TO KAWHIA. A TEDIOUS JOURNEY. FURTHER DEPUTATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL COKRKSrOXPENT.] Kawhia, Thursday. The Prime Minister and party had a trying experience to-day. They left Te Kuiri by train, at 6.50 a.m., for Te Awamutu, and on arrival at the latter place were i drive!; to the Commercial Hotel, where they were entertained at breakfast by the Te Awamutu Town Board. The health of the Prime Minister was proposed by Mr. Teasdale, chairman of the Town Board, and heartily honoured. In reply, Sir Joseph referred to his visit to the town six years ago, as Postmaster-General in connection with the introduction of the penny postage throughout New Zealand. He said that his prediction then, that penny post-ago would become universal, was in a. fair way of becoming realised, and might be brought about by the Postal Conference, which would meet in Madrid three years hence. (Applause.) After breakfast Sir Joseph received a number of deputations, introduced by Mr. Greenslade, the member for the district, who came on from Te Kniti with the Prime .Minister.

The first request brought under notice was that Te Awamutu should lie made a stopping station for the Main Trunk railway through train, when the route was completed. It was pointed out that Te Awamutu was the centre of a big farming district, and also possessed .< several historic battlefields. Sir Joseph eaid that he would ask the Minister for Railways to consider the request. Sir Joseph was also asked to have a Government survey made between Te Awamutu and Kawhia, for a railway to connect those two rapidly growing districts. The request was promised consideration. Another request was that a new front should be provided for the Te Awamutu post office, and a small deputation from Kihikihi asked for an improved mail and telephone service there. With regard to the first request, Sir Joseph said he would have an estimate prepared as to the cost. The deputation from Kihikihi was told that their request would receive consideration.

The County Council preferred two requests. The first was for the abolition of the £20 annual contribution for the district mail service. Sir Joseph, in reply, said that the principle, he had always laid down as Postmaster-General was that the Postal Department was prepared to do a good deal for nothing, but at the same time the people were expected to do something. The second request 'was "for an abatement of the railway demurrage charges, or some relaxation* of the regulations regarding the unloading of trucks, and Sir Joseph promised to look into the matter. The .party left by coach shortly after ten for Kawhia, which was timed to be reached at five o'clock, but owing to bad roads and adverse tides it was nearly eleven before the little seaport on the West Coast came into view. When the party reached Oparau the tide was out, and the launch journey could not be commenced till nearly nine o'clock. Then the launch, in trying a short cut to Kawhia, ran on a. sandbank, and had to be poled off. Consequently, when Sir Joseph reached Kawhia the proceedings had to be greatly curtailed. After a hasty supper he delivered a brief speech to the crowd that had patiently waited, so long, and then left by steamer for Waitara at midnight. He will go straight on to Wellington by steamer from New Plymouth, arriving to-morrow night.