PARLIAMENTARY TOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 60

PARLIAMENTARY TOUR

NORTH AUCKLAND DISTRICT. AUCKLAND, j-muary 1. The tour of North Auckland by a Par>amcntarv party commenced to-day, wh n '!»■ guests Iflt D-evunport in almul 40 motor cars. Tho following members oi . : ii ■ it - " t'ikins i-1 i to: Sir Frederick Lang. Hon. Arthur Myers, Messrs Anderson (Mataura). SJtatham (Dunrdin Central) Ma'eolm (Oluth ) L)i , n (Chalmers), Field (Nelson), Hornsby (Wairarapa), Fletcher (Wellington Central), ir.ndmai'Sii (Wellington South), Wright (Wellington Suburbs), Pearce (Patea), Okey (Taranaki , Smith (Pahiatua), Smith (Waimarino), Voitoh (Wanganui), Wilkinson (Egmoui), Bollard (Raglan), Rhodes (Thames), Poland (Ohinemuri), Y'oung (VVaikato), Dickson (Panicll), Parr (Eden), Poole (Auckland West), Glover (Auckland Central . Mander (Marsden), and Harris (Waitemata). Other guests aro Messrs Triggs (editor Christchurch Press), Hutchison (editor Ut'ago Daily Times), and JJail (editor Wanganui Chronicle). WHANGAREI. January ft. The parliamentary party arrived at Whangarei without mishap at 6 o'clock this evening. The journey was mostly through undeveloped country. Representatives of local bodies m\t the party, and drew attention to the lack of transport facilities, and urged the nationalisation of the main arterial roads. The lion. Mr Myers, in acknowledging tho welcome in tho afternoon at Waipu, again emphasised the need of a comprehensive local government bill. He also declared that a vigorous prosecution of tho main trunk lines must bo a cardinal point of any Government's programme. WHANGAREI, January 18. The Parliamentary party had a very varied day. They visited the Wairua Falls and inspected the electrical power plant installed by the Dominion Cement Company. The day's programme included an inspection of two local companies' cement works and the meat company's works, a garden party, -and a public meeting in the Town Hall. Whangarei took half a holiday, and altogether the visitors had a very pleasant time. Tho excursionists are due" at the Bay of Islands to-morrow cvening. Mr Statham, in the Town Hall tonight, reserved his judgment about the land traversed between Auckland and Whangarei, but indicated cautiously that he would give a well-considered opinion when tho tour had been finished. RUSSELL, January 19. The parliamentary party arrived at Russell this afternoon. Halfway from Whangarei tho excursionists received a memorable imwres-sion of switchback roads. Several cars were delayed at one difficult, slippery turn, but thcro was no serious mishap.

KAITAIA, January 22. The Parliamentary party had some exciting; adventures on steep clay slopes to-day during the run from Kaitaia to the Ninetymilo Beach, which offers a hard and level motor drive to the North Cape. Heavy showers quickly made quagmires of parts of the roads. By the aid of chains on the hack tyres the cars managed to get over the greasy slides. One car slipped on the run back and stopped against a bank, but nobody was injured, and the car was hauled out and resumed the journey. Pakoha and Maori are giving a varied entertainment tonight. The party will face southward tomorrow.