WELCOME TO MINISTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 10

WELCOME TO MINISTER

GATHERING AT DARGAVILLE

SETTLERS' NEEDS EXPLAINED

[BY TELEGRAPII —SPECIAL REPORTER] DARGAVILLE, Monday

There was an attendance of about 200 people in the Dargaville Municipal Chambers to-night when the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semplo, was tendered a civic welcome. He was introduced by tho Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, member of Parliament for Kaipara, who explained to the Minister the difficulties of the settlers in the North, which, lie said, was largely a "small man's country."

Given reasonable opportunities, said Mr. Coates, ho thought the majority of tho settlers had a good future. It was only about five years since it Jiad first been possible to travel from Auckland to Dargaville by road in winter. They did not want the most modern form of transport to be held from them, for on good roads depended their development. The railways had their place, added Mr. Coates. Fertilisers and stock could bo handled by rail at rates that were not possible on the kind of road the North could expect to have. Mr. Semple said he had come north to look at their iaihvay line. Mr. Coates had been "at him," as he thought that, while the completion of railway lines was in the air, this line should be in tho picture. "And I think so, too," said Mr. Semple, amid applause.

The Minister immediately qualified his statement by saying he was not going to make any definite promise until he had a look at the country, "and a good look, too, I can assure you," he added with emphasis. "When I have got something to say about it, I will say it."