PUBLIC WORKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8182, 25 July 1912, Page 1

PUBLIC WORKS

MINISTER IN THE NORTH HON. W. FRASER WAITED OX BY DEPUTATIONS. KING COUNTRY NEEDS. PEES 3 ASSOCIATION. TE IvDITT, July 21. Thei Hon. W.* Eraser, .Minister for Public Works, accompanied by Mr Wilson, member lor Uaumarunui, arrived ucro this morning. Tney were received oy Mr Hardy, tne Mayor, at the station, also by members of the Reform .neaguc. Immediately after arrival the minister, accompanied by a number oi settlers and townspeople, drove out to tno main road on a tour of inspection. The Minister received numerous deputations tnis afternoon and evening on .oad and railway matters. Mr bchoics, county chairman, urged cho adoption of tne subsidy system of grants. Settlers who wero prepared to aexp themselves should be assisted. Mr J. Boddio advocated that main roads should be pusued through. No district in the Dominion required such a large, expenditure .as the King Country owing to the groat expansion ol settlement, and it was in tno interest of the country that an active loading policy should bo adopted. Air Fraser, in replying, said that much depended upon the amount placed at his disposal for expenditure. Ho had seen sufficient of the state of the district to impress upon him the urgent need of roads. Ho could not say anything, of cbo policy of the Government at xirosent, but all work undertaken would be put through quickly and on economical lines. He could not help thinking how much, money had been wasted in the past through delay in metalling and also in .insufficient supervision. It appeared a cheap method to push through a great amount of formation work and open 'up the country, but. it was really wasteful, as much of the work would have to bo done again before metalling. Every pound saved meant a pound extra put on • the roads. He intended, after .Parliament rose, to .go through the country and make himself acquainted with the needs of every district, and see the manner in which the reading was conducted. Ho vrae not a man of many words, and preferred to bo judged’ by what he accomplished. The Minister .will bo entertained at a banquet to-night, and will return to Wellington by tho 2’a.m. express.