MINISTERIAL TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 19172, 16 February 1924, Page 5

MINISTERIAL TOUR

MR COATES IN SOUTHLAND INSPECTION OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT DEPUTATIONS RECEIVED Tn continuation of his tour ihmnph Southland Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Railways and Public Works, and Post-master-General, yesterday paid a visit to the various towns on branch lines in the Western District. Mr Coates and his Departmental officers, accompanied the Hon. A. F. Hawke and Messrs J. Horn, and P. A. de la Perrelle, M’s. P., journeyed by special train over the lines concerned in order to gain a first-hand knowledge of the district and to hear the views of the residents in the various district as to what they required. The weather was fine and warm and with the exception of a fairly heavy shower experienced during the motor journey from Orawia to Nightcaps these conditions prevailed throughout the whole of the day. Several deputations were heard in the course of the day’s travels and in the main the Minister’s remarks were in keeping with those made to previous deputations which had approached the Minister during the present tour. RIVERTON. After leaving Invercargill at 8.10 am. the first stop was made at Riverton where the Mayor (Dr. Trotter), and Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P. for Wallace, took the opportunity of showing the Minister the traffic bridge over the Aparima River at Rivert in. Dr. Trotter stated that an estimate had been prepared in 1921 for the construction cf a new concrete bridge at a cost of £20,000 and that subsequently a proposal had been made that the Government should contribute £lO,OOO, the local Borough £7500 and the Wallace County Council the remaining £2500. The Minister asked whether the authorities concerned had considered the question of building the bridge with a c increte under structure and a hardwood decking which it was believed would not require renewal for at least 40 years, while the piles and stringers would be of a permanent character. Dr. Trotter reiterated that that suggestion had not previously been considered but he was sure the authorities would give it favourable consideration. Personally, he thought the Minister’s idea was a splendid one and wculd lead to a modification of the £20,000 estimate. That being so the whole question would again be gone and representations made laL.i after the M'—ister had mei.'.ivx.ed the matter to the Highways Board. Mr Geo. Howell, J.P.. also brought before the Minister the possibility of obtaining oil from two different sources in close proximity to the town. The Minister promised to bring the information supplied under the notice of his colleague the Minister of Mines. TUATAPERE. Better postal facilities fcr Tuatapere, particularly in respect to the erection of a suitable Post and Telegraph Office in a central portion of the as well as improved railway communication for that rapidly growing district were urged upon the Minister by a deputation consisting of Messrs G. E. Chari; ?n, I*. A. McCall-m, P. Hamilton, A. McEwen and G. McLeod. The point that the progress of the district was substan*: -’ r-d permanent t.id not transitory as was generally the case in timber districts was strongly emphasised by th< various speakers. In addition to the urgent need for a Post Office building there was also a very strong feeling that improved telephonic communication with Invercargill should be provided. An extension of the goods train services and the speeding-up of the passenger trains were also very desirable. Replying to the deputation, Mr Coates again mentioned the necessity for restricting expenditure while at the same time keeping in view the fact that essential improvements of real benefit to the community and the. country were not overlooked. As regards a new ’’ost Office f. ould depend entirely on the fact whether the volume of business warranted such expenditure. He would, however, be glad to have the matter looked into. Improved telephonic communication no doubt wculd lead to extensions and il the local residents were prepared to guarantee fifty subscribers he would be prepared to sei.a •• •’ • •>.«’! along to make inquiries, with a view to better facilities being made available. Mr McVilly, in replying to the request for improved trUin services, said he was prepared to go into the matter carefully and if it was possible to give better communication, he would be willing to do so. A voice: We are receiving the same train services now as when the line was first opened for traffic. Mr McVilly: Yes, that may be. It is far more difficult to make the trains pay now than it was then. ORAWIA. , The Minister then continued the journef over the new line from Tuatapere to Orawia which is still in course of construction and while en route inspected the recently opened gravel pit. He also met some of the settlers headed by Mr C. W. Leahy, who are resident along the proposed route with reference to the provision of a loading siding at a point 4-1 miles above Tuatapere. Mr Coates promised to have the matter looked into and a plan of the locality showing the settlers’ homes which are likely to use the siding before giving a definite reply. OHAI AND NIGHTCAPS. Motor cars were in waiting at Orawia when the train arrived there to convey the Minister and his officers across to Ohai and Nightcaps by .vay of Birchwood. After a good run across the country which was looking particularly good, the Minister reached Nightcaps at 1.45, where th? party wag entertained at lunch by the members of the Town Board. Subsc . .ently Mr Coates met a large deputation in the Coronation Hall with reference to the Government taking over the control of the privately owned section of line between Wairio and Nightcaps. That completed, the special train conveying the Ministerial Party set out for Invercargill, and after brief stoppages at Wairio, where the Minister had a look over the Ohai Railway Board’s sidings and plant, and at Otautaii, arrived in town a few minutes before, six o’clock. In the evening Mr Coatci proceeded to Bluff to deal with some matters there and then returned to town where some further deputations were heard. DEPUTATIONS AT BLUFF. In the evening the Minister visited Bluff and on arrival was met by the Mayor, Mr J. S. A. McDougall. members of the Borough Council and Bluff Citizens’ Association. During his short stay at the Port the Minister heard a number of deputations. Mr P. de la Perrelle, M.P., on behalf of the residents, welcomed the Minister to the. Bluff, which, he stated, was the port of the finest agricultural district in the Dominion. The Mayor also welcomed the Minister, and stated that the residents would have been glad if he could have extended his visit. GREEN POINT DOMAIN. The Mayor stated that the first matter which they desired to bring under the notice of the Minister, was the necessity for a level crossing at Green Point Domain. Repeated applications had been made by the Domain Board for this provision, but without success. The domain was situated between the railway line and the sea, and was leased to a settler at a rental of £4O per annum. The settler grazed cattle on the land, but except at low tide it was a difficult matter for him to drive his. cattle off the Domain. It was stated that the Department would have been pleased to have considered constructing and leasing a cutting, but would not have given one. The scheme, how-

(Continued from Previous Page). ever, was impracticable, and if placed in the position asked for would be dangerous to traffic. The Minister stated that he could not agree to veto a recommendation of that sort as Mere were too many accidents arising out of level crossings. TRAIN SERVICE. The Mayor next introduced the subject of the train service from Bluff to InverI cargill, and stated that the residents desired to have the train which now left I the port at 1.25 p.m. altered so as to leave iat 12.20. This would be a great convenii ence to those who wished to catch the 1 express train at Invercargill, and would also be of considerable benefit to the business people, especially in regard to mails. By leaving on the 10.35 train from Bluff wished to catch the express were required to wait two hours in Invercargill, while it was also too early for business in so far as mails were concerned. Mr A. W. Morgan stated that there would be a decided objection from the Invercargill people, who would have a long wait at the port before they could return to Invercargill. *•*> I The Minister said that he believed in I giving more attention to those outside who ■ wanted to get in than those inside who | wanted to get out. Mr Morgan could go j into the matter with them, and no doubt j a satisfactory arrangement could be arrived at. WARD’S PARADE. The Mayor further asked that the Government should make a grant for the purpose of extending Ward’s parade. The parade extended for some distance round the point, but the residents were anxious to further extend it as far as Ocean Beach. Mr Coates: How much is the borough giving. The Mayor: The borough has not considered the matter. Mr Hinchey stated that it would be a very costly matter to carry out the whole of the work in one undertaking, and it was therefore intended to extend it gradually. The road was used a great deal by visitors to the port, especially in boisterous weather, as it was well sheltered by the hills. The Minister replied that the matter was one for the Minister of Tourist Resorts. CATCHMENT AREA. V Mr W. Hinchey also brought under the notice of the Minister the necessity for setting aside a certain area of land on the Bluff Hill as a reserve and a catchment area. He stated that the Council had a 140-acre reserve of bush, but some of the adjoining land was owned privately. These portions they desired for the purposes mentioned. The position had previously been placed before the Prime Minister, who had regarded their representations favourably as they had been backed up by some of the leading botanists. These latter had stated that some specimens which were to be found there were not to be found elsewhere in th Dominion except in fossils. Citizens’ Association was moving in the matter and would like the Minister to do anything within his power to give effect to their proposal. The Hon. J. G. Coates replied that, w’ith Mr Perrelle, he would be glad to state their representations to the Minister of Tourist Resorts. AT INVERCARGILL. On his return to Invercargill the Minister met a number of other deputations. WAIMATUKU RIVER BOARD. The Hon. A. F. Hawke, Mr J. VH. Fisher and Mr McKenzie, representing the Waimatuku River Board, approached the Minister in respect of a grant for the purpose of draining the land within the Board’s area. The Hon. A. F. Hawke stated that the ratepayers under the Board had * borrowed £BOOO for drainage purposes, and were paying interest on that amount. It had been found that the work would cost considerably more than was at first estimated, and with the object of reducing the burden placed on the ratepayers, it was decided to seek a Government grant of £750 each year lor a period of four years. The Minister: Why should we give you anything. Hon. A. F. Hawke: The country will benefit considerably and some 20 soldier settlers'would also be assisted. The Minister replied that the land would not be improved in the public interest. The area was owned by private people, and if improved to such an extent as indicated why should they not spring the extra £4OOO ? Mr Fisher stated that one of the difficulties with which the Board was faced was that the total area was valued at £240,000, and of that £103,000 was classed as C grade land. There were only 160 ratepayers within the area, and this meant that those whose land was placed in A and B grade would be called upon to bear more than half of the burden. The classification of rates was A grade, seven-eighths of a penny, B grade three-farthings, and C grade, threeeighths. The Minister said that he would be glad to go into the matter. If asked for his decision now he would say no. However, he would discuss the matter with Mr Hawke and let them know the result later on. STEWART ISLAND. Mr C. J. Brodrick, President of the Southland League, Mr P. Dick, secretary, and Mr A. Russell, made representations for a Government subsidy of £2OO for the purpose.of laying down tennis courts at Stewart Island. After hearing the representations of the speakers, the Minister stated that the application “had gone all round the mulberry bush” and had been referred from one Minister to another. If possible he would help them, and thought that something could be done for Stewart Island.