MINISTERIAL TOUR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12411, 22 March 1911, Page 7

MINISTERIAL TOUR.

HON. R. McKENZm ON THK EAST ! ' COAST.

NATIVE LAND ..MATTERS

(Special to Herald.) WAIPIRO, this day. On the way to Waipiro yesterday afternoon, the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister for Public Works, and party paid a visit to the Waiapu hospital at Te Puia, where they were entertained at afternoon/ tea by the matron, Miss Shillington. i A FINK HOSPITAL. ] The Minister spoke very highly of the hospital and its charming situation. It was, he said, a fine little institution, splendidly kept. It was one oi the cleanest little places of the kind that he had* seen. These remarks were cordially endorsed by other visitors. The party arrived at Waipiro about 4 p.m., being met by Messrs K. S. Williams, A. 13. Williams, T. B. Sherwood, members of the Waiapu County Council, and Mr W\ O'Ryan, the County clerk and engineer. DISTRICT MATTERS, Mr K. S. Williams, Chairman of the County Council, requested, the Minister to grant a subsidy for two bridges over the Waiapu river. One . had already been provided for, but the other, at Rotokautuku, would cost about JbtfOU) or 3SSOOO. They were, however, justified m asking tor the latter, as it was a- continuation of the existing road into the OpotLki County The Hon. Mr, McKen„ie- said they had better send him the application and he would see what be done. Mr O'Ryan said that m connection with the expenditure of Government grants/ he was expected to provide a report every month .of the number- of men employed and the of work that was being done. But they did not draw the money until the work was j completed 1 . •■"•'■' ■ The Hon. Mr McKenzie said that m that respect they we're" very different from other bodies. He" would see that they would not be troubled about mon' lily reports, unless when they were wanting to draw money. Mr O'Ryan also complained of the amount of work that was entailed m providing plans and specifications m connection with Government work, and he asked if he could be relieved of this. Ho buoted an instance where he had had bo ; make : 34 tracings: / Tjon. Mr McKenzie; I am afraid that we cannot let you out of making plans. He added that he had never heard of my complaint on this score from other bodies. Mr O'Ryan said they had far more difficulties to contend with m laying off roadß m Waiapu than those expcrienc:d m other counties. The Hon. Mr McKenzie said that if they got Mr Armstrong, the Resident Engineer, to endorse their plans to the affect that no better grade was obtainible, then the Department would p.iss the plans. TE KAHA TRACK.. Referring to the Te Kaha track, Mr O'Ryan pointed out that it was an important connection betweon the Coast md the Bay of Plenty, ■ « Mr McKenzie : What do you want to •^o i to. the Bay of Plenty for? Is the •6ad legalised? Mr O'Ryan -i No. Mr McKenzie : Then you had better lave it legalised. / Mr O'Ryan said that it was a very important road. Mr McKenzie : We will have a railway through there before you have inished with the road. Mr K. F. Williams remarked that hey did not intend to expend their •ates ori roads m other counties^ Mr McKenzie said, he was not going o give, them money tp, make that icd. Mr O'Ryan pointed out that the obect of the road was to bring stock from >potiki to the Coast, and to make a hort cut from the Coast to Opotiki. r Mr McKpnzie : You hope to get sheep 'hrough from Opotiki i'nr the \\>Lo nam Freezing Works? Mr O'Ryan: Yes. Mr McKenzie : Well, you can disbuse your minds of that idea, heci'isc, vhen the Motu railway m finished thoy vill all go that way.' In about four wears' time, we Bhould have the railway ■hrbugh tb OpottkJ from Mptu. . In regard to the 'e^alising of the Te Kaha road, Mr O'Rvan pointed ,oiit, .'hat they had previously been allowed xr make' one road without sirve^lng it. Mr McKenzie: I. let you make one mlall piece, but we are not going to rontinve it. ■■■'„■■ Mr O'Ryan stated'' tint a Lirse nn».a ■»f Native land was.being,. being, taken up. y. Mr McKenzie : . S'ipppsing that you nake this road., and some Maoris he"iiome disagreeable, ; and o'ose it up, :iyhich they are entit'ed to So. '. \fr O'Ryan paid they had never yet 'lftd that experience.Mr Sherwood .so Id that if that whs She law it Should be altered.

SCORING ALL THE Mr Mac Donald mentioned that tho Vative owners were scoring all the time.. Mr McKen7ie : Ofxcouree they are, md that ought to be stopped. He ndled that they had" better, wait until the Native* agreed to: the mnkjng of f.he •bad. before they started to work* The Minister asked if there were many Vfatives' wild paid rates. Mr O'Ryan: Thqse who utilise their 'and are very eood. Mr McKenzie pointed 0 ,- t that t^ese natters did not come within the fc m e •f. bis' department. He <Md not s~e why beKfltive Minister. $h#uld rot visit ihe listrict. i\nd h^e i\\e_. wwh dPP e for herri. Mr Mac Donald endorsed th's v'ew, •rd fifl'd he tho"ffhjt;t ,, c 27 Hive Departnent should assist iiv the mntt?r. Mr o'U.van : Leave the survey to the Oenartment. «t»4. let' us make t^e ro^d. Mr Mac Donald rerwavVftd tSat within ."ihe next few years the Natives jyould ,ie compelled to pay rates. ; ,Mr McKenzie"; Th^t Hud sho>r<d be iw It with the same "S Crown land. ."You have a lot of Native hnd aboit •bis district." nd^ed-;tbe Minister. •Mr K. S. William*; Th»uE<{nds of teres. ' ; .■'.-.. Mr MaoTJonakl said lint ns far . rt s the Waiapu County was, eoiicir^ed, it was Kiost progressive, and Anxious to improve the district, b'"t almost, every time they wanted to male improvement* or jo it head, they ran into, the NLnliv* tand 'rouble, There shou'd be a oreat deal nore done towardw /irittins;' Nntives on he same rating iitfsis pr Europeans. There should hfc no exceptions at all. ■Mr A. ti.' William's.: The worst of it : s that it is m 'the interests of the Wtives to han" on. Mr Mao Donald refer^d to instances where Natives obtained £f> an ato ♦-.hroup-h obstructing Kuropenns who <ver« seeking to obtain an area of Vative land. - \ '•• SiITTrNT} TIGHT. 'Mr' McKenzie: \ tHn\ the best thing t can do is to sit tight. Mr Mac Donald said that tho County Council was not as'tins for grants for r-onds. but for subsidies .on the two bridges, and authority to spend the noncy voted for roads m the cuntv. fte remarked that- R^rnmher of Nntives were bringing their laiid into ocupa'ion. Mr McKenzie : We Hive already givei you it subsidy frr one bridge, and I will sec that you get a subsidy for the other. "Tho Native I.and D°.pa"t.ment Sfot CSCO OCO for 'roadm^ a"d hrid^ina; Nat- ; ve land,'* said the Minister. "What did they do with it?" as^ed Mr ■. Sherwood. *' ; ' . ' Mr/MacDionald explained th*t the Act 'iad only been nnssH l*jit ses~ion. •Tn reply to the Minister. Mr K. a . Williams said that they h"d about TfOl w- 4000 Natives m the co-mtv. Tbere were more Natives than K'^-o^eans. '■ Mr McKenzie »'«*dthat altho"«jh they •leserml more assistance m that district than did those m districts that had railwpV facilities, there was no reason Why they should r"-ad Native land at L -h" exn»nse of the Furonean setters. The Minister fls^d Mr O'Ryan how he wenf about f^tt^n" a *oad Walif^d. Vi< (Vt?.v<in renlWl tha*-- he survwrt it. M* McKenzie: Wbv object to le/Mise the Te Kaha road before making it? M«> o'R~<in p"id thst It wm on «"«- '"Tutnt of the difficulty m getting the suyryey made.

MR." CARROLL'S All) WANTED. Mr McKenzie: 1 think you should get J Mr Carroll up here to discuss these Native land questions. Mr K. S. Williams snid that Mr Car-] roll used to visit them once a year when he was representing the district. | Mr A, v. Williams said that he hoped the Minister for Public Woias would come with Mr Carroll, and back them 1 up. During further discussion, the Minister said he certainly thought it the duty of the Native Department to make the road that was asked for. Mr K. S. Williams : 1 hope you will bring the matter before the Native Minister. Mr *McKenxie : I certainly will. In reply to the Minister, Mr K. S. Williams said that the Hon. A. i. Ngata. was engaged at a big Maori meeting, and could not be present that utter--noon. WANTING TOO MUCH. Mr McKenzie : Have you any other matters that are troubling you? Mr C Ryan -. I am afraid you will not meet me. Mr McKenzie : I think you want too much of your own way. Mr O'Kyan remarked that unle.-s a Work were" necessary he would not thinlc of doing it. Mr McKenzie : Who is the judge of when a work is necessary ? Mr O'Ryan: The Engineer. Mr McKenzie said they did not ailow money to be spent unless they knew what was being done with it. Mr O'Ryan asked if he would be allowed to use matai for culverts instead of totara when the latter was not available. Mr McKenzie : If you cannot get totara, you can certainly use matai. Mr (/Ryan referred to the quesiio 1 of duty on steel bridges. Mr McKenzie said he could not holy* them m that respect. He thought they should manufacture the articles themselves from the steel, and he pointed out that there w : as no d..ty on steel except when it was the manufael. red article. After further informal discussion. Mr K. S. Williams thanked the Hon. Mr McKenzie for visiting them and listening to their representations. Mr Mac Donald said he had h.jped that this year a large number of gr« nt* would have been expended befo.e the wet weather came on. Mr McKenzie : If yott have any not ! yet spent, and you have sent th© phms of the proposed' work, I will see that you get the necessary authority. i OBSTACLES IN THE PATH. | Mr Mac Donald said he regretted that the Minister had not been able to go further through the Waiapu County, but an examination of the map g.ve one some indication of the great <ii rli- J culties that the country had to contend with, when they were making roads and had to go through Native laud, enha icing it m value. At the same ti.r.e, there was a great deal of Karop an land affected. No doubt the" -Council was desirous of progress, and wisied to open up the district by roads and bridges; but unless some arrangem-nt Avere come to with the Native Dei- art- j ment, it was an utter waste of time to j prospect for and locate roads. He hoped that the Minister would co:;fer with his colleagues, the Hon. J. Qar:oll, Hon. A. T. Ngata., and tne Minister for Lands, m reference to these mattei s so as to have an improvement effected. In coming this far he hoped Mr McKe : ie would be able to deal with some of ihei difficulties, which confronted 1 the Co .nil m a way that would result m good to the district. He referred to the g c;t amount of work noAV devolving on Mr McKenzie by the re-arrangement of p rtfolios; it meant a heavy task for t'.ie Minister. FUTURE VISIT HOPED FOR. In conclusion Mr Mac Donald said he hoped the visit of the Minister for Public Works to Waipiro would be productive of a great deal of good to the county, and he hoped that on rme' future occasion the Minister would be nh\o to make an extensive tour of the county, visiting the viirious parts of .he' district. ; The Hon. Mr McKenzie/. in reply, ud he was very pleased to be able to gt 'amongst them, for certainly there w •■ ■■> a very fine piece of country between V. uipiro and (lisborne 6ixl Waipiro nd Orx>tiki. They would n^e a stioAa effort to get the Minister for Lands nd the Native Minister to visit them,' N<> hIng would give him greater pleas r« than to see tlie qountry more utU ;eo for settlement than it was- T ! : l j should be far more people on the la -id than there wer6 at present. Ho ws sorry that h& had not mores time at Ilia disposal to nut'ic a mope cxt'iHive 1.-|U". but -he pointed out (h«t he h&A alv :dv been 4 fortnight In M»> MaoDonn'U rH sprite. , He thougilit. the Native Minister would be inclined to have sum Native laud put on the market. He would represent these matters to ,Mr Carroll and the Minister of J^ands.

DINNER AT WAIPIRO. L>sfc' night the Hon. R. McKenzie : nd party were tne g u e sts of >lr K. S. William^ at plipner at the Wai >ro hotel. The ho«{,, Mr. $Q)<tn&n Law, \ rp, vided an excellent repast. . In proposing the health of the <H»«m guest Mr Williams expressed pleasur.. at haying met him >n'"tK« Waiapn Coimiy, and {tanked lijm for. going to the trouble of visiting the distinct. He hoped the Minister would tnme that way again. , , The Hon. R. Melte/izie, m reply.ng, thanked Mr Williams and the other gentlemen for their cordial welcome, and the kindly manner m which he had been treated. He said the Government he represented were anxious to as«ist )n t,he development of these outlying alsirjc'ts. r | ! hiey reepgntyed that such districts* were not ip Uw\\ with railway facilities like other parts nf tlie \)ty minion, and the Government felt it their duty to give every reasonable assistance m rbading and bridging the country. The Minister, was, sure that jf £hey made represeiitatipns throiigh theij; nvembey. they woiild receive the consideration pi the Cabinet. They had a spjendid {Jisftrict, bu6"(hey peetleti a very much lavger populatipn," and [he opepjpg of native lands'■•.Tßl BAY OF P^ENTV, Mi> T, E. , then proposed the toast of the member for the Bay of Plenty, Be said he felt sure he was ! voicing the opinion of those present m siting Hwfr" Mr MacDpnftld .was the best representative they had ever had. When requests>had to De( made he had assisted them n'n every 'way possible. He (Mr Sherwood) hoped that m the coming election Mr Mac Donald would again be returned as their representative. . " ■ In the course of his reply Mr MacDonald ■ s,aid he felt gratified with the kindly y e given/the Hon. the Ministe!; fop pub]ic rworks. When he (Mr MacDpna)d) B>a4er] pu^ on his. parliamentary career it was. wit^h a gvea£ amount of diffidence, being conscious of his shortcomings, and the fact that his electorate t^e largest >H l-hp Dominion, Since bpin^ reinrped as their member He had cnnsciontiously endeav= ored tn the beat of his? ability to work m their interests, and the interests of the Doinjnipn as a whole. At-, the outset he did mt go to Wellington with the . intention, of proclaiming his • view s broadly, or thinking that be would revolutionise the Parliamentary system, but as a .man of some practical know-^ lodge, he felt that he could be of some assistance to the Executive of the day, m the opening up and settlement of lands, and m dealing with other requirements m that large electorate, He realised that he could only be successful m doing that by gaining the confidence of the Executive, m which he believed he had been successful, for whatever he had represented on behalf of his' njistric|, had always received fair consideration.

THANKINtt THE MINISTRY. He (Mr Mac Donald) wished to take the opportunity of thanking the Minister for Public Wqrks for the great consideration he had ajways, extended to him. The Hon. Mr. MoKepzie baej always been anxious to assist m every posaible way m roadjng, bridging, and railway construction m that e|ect,Qra|e! He could practically gay the game of fivery Miniver of the Crown, for they had treated all the requests from the Bay of Plenty with the greatest consideration. There were works going pn

m that district of great magnitude, such as the purchase of native lands m the L 7 rewera district, the Rangitaiki drainage scheme, and the East Coast rail-j way construction. Large sums of money had been voted for the carrying out of these woiUs, and he felt confident that the Bay of Plenty clottorato had got a reasonable share of the public money for development purposes. He (Mr Mac Donald) had noted with pleasure the great development that had taken place m the Waiapu district, and a felt sure that with (he legislation enacted last session, and the Native Land Act of 1909, .settlement would go on much more rapidly m the future than it had done m the past. He wished also to specially mention the great consideration and help he had received from tho Hon. A. T. Ngata, whose assistance had alv. ays been willingly given. Mr Ngata was as keenly anVious to assist the European, as ho* was to assist his own race.