MR. COATES IN NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18965, 12 March 1925, Page 10

MR. COATES IN NORTH.

A VISIT TO WHANGAREI. NEW RAILWAY STATION. THE OPENING CEREMONY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WHANGAREI. Wednesday. Tho Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works and Railways, accompanied by his private secretary and Mrs. Coates, and a number of railway officials, arrived in Whangarei this afternoon. The Minister had a busy time at three functions. Tho first was the openiug of the new railway station, where Mr. Coates addrossed a gathering of about 400 people. The Minister stated that tho station buildings had cost between £BOOO and £9OOO, and that £97,000 had been expended in making this sub-terminal area. Tho completion of railway connection with Auckland was really of moro importance than tho enlargement of station facilities, and £1,800,000 had been expended on the line from Whangarei southwards. Mr. Coates dealt at some length with the reorganisation of the railways policy as affecting tho men and the public. He also explained the intentions o£ the Government to run the railways on strictly commercial lines. It was an essential feature that both roads and railways should bo run for useful and economical transport. The railways was a State concern, not out to make profits. If profits were made they would go back to tho public in tho form of reduced freights and fares. The Minister formally opened tho station with a gold key presented to him by Mr, A. Stubbs, district traffic manager. Mr. Coates then opened the new concrete bridge over the Waiarohia stream in Water Street. The Mayor of Whangarei, | Mr. I). A. McLean, and the Mayor of Dargaville, Mr. R. E. Ilornblow, also spoke. Mr. Coates declared that he doubted whether there was any town in 'New Zealand that had progressed more than Whangarei during the past few years. The ribbon barrier at the bridge was cut by Mrs. McLean. Subsequently the Minister opened the Public Trust Office block, which, at a cost of £22,000, is to house tho Government offices in Whangarei under one roof, and which is the largest building in Whangarei. Tho Mayor remarked that it was a pity that a clock tower had not been provided, and Mr. W. Jones declared that •that was not to be expected, as the policy of the Public Trust was to give no "tick." The Minister, referrin go that, said that if called upon to decide he was satisfied to abide by the architect's opinion that a clock was not desirable. Mr. Coates said that the building was due in large measure to the activities of the Chamber of Commerce, and he dealt with the policy of decentralisation of which the building was an expression. Mr. J. W. McDonald, Public Trustee, quoted figures showing the increase of business done by the office, and declared that, although the building was large and elaborate, it reflected the confidence of the Public Trustee in the community and the future of the district. Later a number of deputations waited upon the Minister in regard to matters of local importance. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. INSPECTION BY MINISTER. FREIGHT FROM PUKEHUIA. [by telegraph.--own correspondent. ] DARGAVILLE, Wednesday. During the visit of the Minister for Railways to the electorate, Mr. Coates inspected the railway works on the Kiri-kopuni-Waiotira section. A halt was made at tho proposed site of the new dairy factory. An application is being made by the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company, Ltd., for a railway siding, and it is anti-1 cipated that in bringing its water suppi; to the station the department will be able to make provision for supplying the proposed factory with water. The Wairoa River will be crossed by a steel bridge, 750 ft. in length. It will take 15 months to complete. An engine and two trucks were on Saturday night taxed to their utmost cap a ; city with some 70 to 80 passengers, bound 1 for* Pukehuia to attend the opening ceremony of the Y.M.C.A. hall and pictures. As showing how close this railway is to being an accomplished fact, Mr. Coates, in conversation with a Pukehuia farmer, advised him to get into touch with the Public Works engineer, for he was sure that the department would be accepting freight for Pukehuia and intermediate stations within the next six weeks. LOCAL NEEDS URGED. WAIROA RIVER BRIDGE. TOLL GATE NOT FAVOURED. (B¥ TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT I DARGAVILLE. Wednesday. During his visit to the district, the Hon. J. G. Coates had a busy time receiving deputations. One from the Northern Wairoa River Bridge Conference, asked the position regarding the installation of a toll gate. The Minister said he was against the proposal which he said was an antiquated one. Motorists were now. paying an extra amount yearly for the purpose of road maintenance, and the toll gates on main highways were about to be done away with in other places. The Main Highways Board would include the Northern Wairoa Bridge in the main highways scheme and would assist in financing its upkeep. Several deputations were received at Pukehuia regarding the conditions governing contracts on Public Works jobs. They also asked the Minister's advice which was readily given. Various reading matters were mentioned including the Tangiteroria-Pukehuia and Pukehuia-Omana roads, on which the operations of the department have thrown very heavy traffic and which are in need of immediate attention before the winter sets in. The Minister was sympathetic, and his departmental officers, Messrs. Jeffs and Downer, will make a report as soon as possible.