MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17935, 14 May 1920, Page 5

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS

VISIT TO SOUTHLAND.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondbnt.) -INVERCARGILL, May 13. _ The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Pubho Works, is on his first visit to Southland. ' •

At Goro he wne met with a request that tho Government i-hould contribute one-third of the cost of a now concrete traffic bridge estimated to cost £7XO, the borough and tho Southland County Council to contribute ■ 'half each of the balance. A request of exactly the same nature was made at . Matii'Ura.

In replying to tho deputations the e Minister promised that ho -would go fully into' tlif> position' with Jiie engineers. • Mr Coales also visited Titipiia (Glencoe), where he was waited on by about a dozen settlers, who stressed the importance of linking up the eastern and western districts by continuing the Wintdn-Hedgehope lailway lino from Hedgehope to Gore. It' , was argued that this would lip of great benefit to the farnvirs of tlie dierbriot from a transport point of view, and that besides opening up tho adjacent co.il depoeite, the ■ lino would shorten the irouto from Winton to Gore by about 48 miles. < Replying, tho Minister eaid he was satis- , fied" the arguments were sound. It was Ihh policy to continue the main and connecting branch -lines of importance methoI'ioally, and not to carry out tho work : n _patohes. He would go fully into Jbe •■ matter and let the M#yor of Gore, who was one of the deputation, know hia docision.

Mr Cbivtes will lotive for Dunedin toreorrbw. crri on to Ohristehurch on Satunv day, and on to the West Coast on Monday.