GRANTS FOR RURAL ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 8

GRANTS FOR RURAL ROADS.

BAY OF PLENTY REQUESTS.

AN OUTSPOKEN MINISTER.

A deputation representing Bay of Plenty local bodies waited upon the Hon. J. G. Coatos, Minister for Public Works, at Tauranga on Saturday, to ask for a great of three to one toward metalling the Kaimai hill road, which, it was stated, was the most important link between Tauranga and the Waikato. The work will cost £10,000. One speaker said it would be a feeder to the Rotorua rail-

way. This argument Mr. Coates refused to accept. "Wo don't want to make a road over those hills," he said, "to feed any railway. We are making you a railway, and wo want your traffic by it, not over the Kaimai." The road, however, was a main highway, and the Main Highways Board was solely responsible. All he could do was to hand their representations to the board. "You wanted to get rid of political influence in rogard to votes," he added. "Now you have got rid of it in the Highways Board." When a grant for a by-road on which there is one settler was asked, Mr. Coates inquired what the county was doing in the matter. He indicated that ho was not satisfied with the reply, statn 1 that the Tauranga County Council was not noted for "springing off its tail," and ended the interview abruptly. Ho let it be seen that he expects locai effort to be made before Government aid is sought. At the same time he indicated a strong sympathy for the lonely settler, who apparently is the victim of his own courage, and the nonresidence of other owners. Later a Rotorua deputation asked for monoy to make the Mamaku hills road passable for motor traffic at all seasons. "Why not use the Atiamuri road instead ?" asked the Ministor, who said that although that road was not good it was passable. "There are too many poor blooming ' cockies ' who need roads," he added. Mr. Coates rejected the suggestion that the. Mamaku hills road was comparable with the road over the Rangiriris. "Not in the same category," ho remarked. Ho said ho would look into the matter of the Mamaku road. "I forget what is on the Estimates for it. I know t,he road is bad and that a road is desirable."