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New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9003, 27 March 1915, Page 6

The decrease from £4OO to £3OO a year in the subsidy given the mail contractors between Pahiatua and Pongaroa was the subject of a deputation from the former town to the Postmas-ter-General (Hon. R. H. Rhodes) yesterday. Formerly the contract was carried out by a motor company, but owing to the bad roads, horse vehicles had to bo resorted to. The deputation pointed out that with the present high price of horsefeed the decreased subsidy would be quite insufficient, and it was even suggested that, owing to the state of the roads, the horse service could not bo wholly relied upon. The effect of the alteration was that the service would have to be carried out via Eketahuna, and it was urged that that would be by no means in the interests of either the Pongaroa or the PaMatua settlors. The Minister replied that he was in a position to provide a quite efficient service from Eketahuna, but he would be prepared to continue the present £4OO subsidy to the end of the year, and if at that time there was reasonable prospect of the motor service being resumed he would continue the five-years’ contract from Pahiatua to Pongaroa to the end of the specified time —January, 1919. Incidentally, it was stated that the failure of the motor service entailed a loss to those who had taken up the venture of about £2OOO.