MR. COATES ON TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19838, 7 January 1928, Page 10

MR. COATES ON TOUR.

BUSY DAYS IN ELECTORATE. MEETINGS WITH SETTLERS. WAIPOUA FOREST ROAD. [BY TELEOBAPH. —OWN COKB2SPOND ENT. 3 DARGAVILLE, Friday. A busy time is being experienced by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, in his tour through his electorate. Everywhere he has met with a very warm welcome. At Turiwiri and Ruawai he addressed settlers and at both places a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried. A brief call was made at Awakino Point, where a number of deputation of a private nature were heard. At the Turiwiri hall, Mr. E. G. Appleton presided over a very representative gathering of settlers and their wives. After listening to a brief address by Mr. Coates, the assistance of the Prime Minister was sought in securing a much-needed increase in the size of the Turiwiri school, where the school porch has bad to be used to accommodate classes.

A brief stop was made at the Arapohue saleyards, and then the party travelled by way of the river road to Tokatoka. Here Messrs. T. P. Downs, T. E. Donovan and McKellow made a request that money should be found for the completion of the Mititai-Totatoka River Road. Mr. Coates said so many urgent requirements had had to be dealt with that this work had had to be postponed until the coming session, when he hoped that money would be available and the road completed during the summer of 1928-29. After luncheon a quick run was made to Ruawai, where between 60 and 7CI settlers and their wives greeted Mr. Coates. Deputations occupied Mr. Coates until after 6 p.m., when he left for Matakohe. Mr. Coates promised to refer the question of the transport of children to the Ruawai school to the Minister of Education. It was stated the cost would be £1630 a year, but a deputation suggested that tha department could be induced to put a scheme into operation, such as that tried out at Piopio, where the board found the buses and a mechanic, and each teacher was paid £SO a year extra for (driving school buses.

Mr. Coates expects to complete his tour next Wednesday. On Thursday next the Prime Minister will attend the Dargaville races, and on Friday, accompanied by the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. 0. J. Hawken, and Mr. Allen Bell, 11.P., will officially open the new road through the Waipoua Forest, returning to Dargaville on Saturday. On Monday, accompanied by the two Ministers, Mr. Coates will commence a tour of the Bay of Islands electorate. The few weeks spent at the seaside have done the Prime Minister a great deal of good, and he is looking very fit and welL