REQUESTS OF SETTLERS

Southland Times, Issue 23140, 5 March 1937, Page 8

REQUESTS OF SETTLERS

MINISTER’S TOUR IN EASTERN DISTRICT VARIETY OF SUBJECTS During yesterday’s tour, the Minister of Railways, who was accompanied by Mr D. McDougall, M.P., Mr G. H. Mackley, general manager of railways, and district departmental officers, received a number of deputations on a variety of subjects. Social Hall At Gore Before the Minister left Gore a deputation of the Gore railway staff discussed the desirability of the department providing a social hall, for the staff. The deputation consisted of Messrs J. Jenkins, C. King, G. Smith and W. G. Wright. Mr Jenkins said that there were about 50 members attached to the Gore staff and there was a considerable need for a hall for the social activities of the staff. About 20 years ago application was made for a hall, and although the department would not grant the request, a promise was made that if a hall were provided in any centre, Gore would be the first centre to get one. Since then the Otira staff had applied for a hall and Gore had raised no objection as it was left that the need of Otira was greater than that of Gore. At the present time it was necessary to hire a hall for social functions and the last send-off had been held in a garage. ' Mr Smith said that weekly card evenings were held in the waiting room of the station, which was draughty and inconvenient. The staff library of 2000 books was housed in the porters’ room. ... The Minister said that application for social halls had been received from all parts of New Zealand and all centres could put up good cases. The general manager was preparing a report on all the applications and when it was received he would make a decision. Gore certainly appeared to have a good claim. He appreciated fully the desirability of social activities among the staff being fostered.

Mr J. Dow, district engineer, explained that the McNab railway station was not required and could be moved to Gore and replaced with a suitable small tablet station for about £4OO, against approximately £l5OO for a new social hall. The Minister promised to consider the matter carefully. Riversdale Requests At Riversdale Messrs J. C. Macpherson, L. Gee, J. L. Elder, W. Kelly, R. H. Matthews and W. Mortimer, representing the Riversdale and District Welfare -League, welcomed the Minister. Mr Macpherson said that the league was trying to improve the appearance of the town by reclaiming a swamp area in front of the railway station. More spoil was required. Mr Dow said that further supplies would be available in a week or two. Mr Macpherson said that some years ago when the route of the main road had been changed an arrangement had been made with the department for the closing of a crossing. It was now found that this was inconvenient for settlers in the top end of the district, particularly in moving stock. It was desired, therefore, that the crossing should be reopened. He also mentioned the question of longitudinal decking on the combined road and rail bridge on the Switzers line and urged that more decking should be provided for the convenience of road traffic. It was also requested that the attention of the Main Highways Board should be drawn to the frequent flooding which occurred at Mandeville and isolated the settlers of Riversdale. The Minister said he would ask the Main Highways Board to confer with the- County Couhcil on the question of the bridge and to take up with the Minister of Public Works the question of road flooding. He agreed to inspect the crossing referred to in the first request. Waikaia District A welcome to the Waikaia district was extended by Mr J. Dennis, a member of the Southland County Council, who expressed approval of the policy of the Government in sending Ministers through the country to ascertain the needs of the people. The Minister expressed appreciation of the sentiments expressed by Mr Dennis. He said he appreciated that it was only by an extensive tour of the country that a Minister could obtain first-hand information of the requirements of the people. He was anxious to discharge this duty and so he was making his tour as complete as possible. One difficulty he was labouring I under was that the residents had failed to advise in advance the subjects which were to be discussed so that he could familiarize himself with the problems before meeting deputations. Mr Dennis raised the question of flooding at the rear of the railway yards caused by the building up of the line. The river was changing its course, he said, and frequent flooding occurred on private property. An embankment was required to keep the river to its course.

Mr Dow said that the building up of the gravel bed of the river was responsible for the flooding. The Minister said that Mr Dow had put his finger on the root of the problem which was • causing anxiety throughout New’ Zealand. He considered that the Waikaia matter should be considered along with the greater national problem which was being considered by the Minister of Public Works, and he would endeavour to have the question included in the major scheme. Another request was that the Monday freight service should be changed to Tuesday as being more convenient for farmers sending stock to Burnside.

Mr J. A. Lindsay said that this could probably be arranged. Mr James Patterson said that district residents had not received their mail on three or four occasions since the beginning of the year because flooding occurred at Freshford. The contractor could easily take a deviation and carry out the service. The Minister promised to take up the matter with the PostmasterGeneral. Name of Siding At the Plains siding Mr C. C. Derrett put forward a request that the name of the siding should be changed. Goods consigned to Plains frequently went astray and were delivered to other similarly named points. Some amusement was caused when it was suggested that the name be “Sullivan and McDougall,” but Mr Dow said that more pretensious station buildings would be expected. The Minister promised to consider the matter. Petrol Taxation Mr Cody waited on the Minister on his return to Riversdale and requested complete exemption from taxation of petrol used on farms. The Minister replied that he was not able to see Mr Cody’s point of view, but he undertook to place the

representations before the Minister of Finance. Visit to Mataura At Mataura the Mayor (Mr J. Buchanan) and several councillors received the Minister. The Mayor stressed the importance of Mataura as an industrial centre on account of the freezing works, paper mill and dairy factory, and he pointed out that all three industries utilized the railway to a very great extent. The requests which the council wished to bring under the notice of the Minister were few and small. The Bridge street crossing was dangerous and motorists could not always hear the bells. It was desired, therefore, that a wig-wag signal should be erected. The fence between the mam line to the north of the town and the main road was very close to the edge of the bitumen and a number of serious accidents had occurred through cyclists being struck by motor-cars. The council desired to know if the department would be prepared to move the fence back to a safe distance. An extra entrance to the station from the north end of the platform was also requested. . . , , In his reply, the Minister said that he was greatly interested in the industries of Mataura in his capacity as Minister of Industries and Commerce, and he was anxious to co-ordinate the railway and industrial services, to the best advantage. He had obtained a good idea of the importance of the district through the persistency of Mr McDougall for grants. So far as the requests were concerned, he was prepared to grant the wig-wag signal ana the additional entrance, but he could not meet the deputation on the removal of the fence. He was not able to see that it was a job for the Railways Department to pay the cost. If the department provided the land, which it was willing to do, someone else could pay the cost of moving the fence. This might be the council or the Main Highways Board. The * Minister then inspected the paper mill and left Mataura for Edendale, where he took motor transport to Wyndham. At Tisbury Mr J. Hargest, M.P., introduced a deputation which made a request for a loading bank at the siding. The request was noted.

AT EDENDALE

WELCOME EXTENDED The Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) later visited Edendale. The ministerial train arrived at about 1.15 p.m. and the party was officially received on the platform by the chairman of the Edendale Town Board, Mr W. Irvine, and the chairman of directors of the Edendale Dairy Factory Co., Ltd., Mr Daniel Tither. There was also a fair crowd of citizens present. Mr Irvine, having welcomed the ministerial party, said Edendale did not have much to put before Mr Sullivan. The removal of the trees in the . railway yard, which besides being an eyesore,” blocked the view of approaching traffic, would be an advantage, he said. The Minister promised to give the matter his most careful consideration. Mr Irvine also asked that the two roadway approaches to the railway station be tar-sealed when the town streets were being done. The present system of depositing metal was not very satisfactory and presented a very real danger to women pedestrians. In replying to this request Mr Sullivan said the work would be done some time. He understood the Southland County Council would be tarsealing the streets with loan money, whereas the approaches to the railway station would have to be done with revenue money. Besides, it might prove too costly. Nevertheless, it would receive attention in due course.

An entertaining interlude was provided at this stage, while the ministerial party was waiting to be conveyed to Wyndham. A crowd of youngsters were pressing the members of the party for autographs, and the gentlemen concerned obliged willingly. Suddenly, Mr McDougall noticed among the crowd Master Ewan McEwan, the wellknown boy soprano, and introduced him to Mr Sullivan. Thereupon, Mr Mackley asked the astonished lad to sing a song for the Minister, and Master McEwan eventually obliged with a verse of “Loch Lomond,” receiving hearty applause from the gathering for his impromptu effort. The party then proceeded by motorcar to Wyndham.

A WELCOME AT WYNDHAM

NEED FOR RAIL-CAR STRESSED The Minister arrived at Wyndham by car, and from there went to Tokanui and Waimahaka. At Wyndham, the ministerial party was greeted at the railway station by quite a large crowd of residents. Mr H. Hunter (chairman of the Wyndham Town Board) extended a welcome to the Minister. Wyndham was not often visited by Ministers of the Crown, he said. They had no grievances to lay before the Minister as they were able to “hoe their own row” without always running to the fountain head. Since the Glenham railway had been cut off, Wyndham had got anything it asked for. Mr Hunter continued by saying there was some talk of a rail-car being put on between Wyndham and Edendale. There was no railway passenger service between these places, only a goods service, and as the present means of transit was by motor-bus, he thought such a service as a rail-car would receive public support. The provision of a weigh-bridge for goods would also be appreciated. He had noticed that there was a petition for a road from the Catlins district to Wyndham. Wyndham had for some time been fighting for a similar’road from Mokoreta through to Waikaia Valley, and the people of Wyndham would like to support the Catlins people’s petition. He concluded by congratulating the Minister and expressing his hopes that he would have a pleasant trip. Mr S. Rice (chairman of Southland Education Board) who was also present, when asked if he had any requests to make, said he had none. He remarked that he had had a good enough innings on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Education (the Hori. Peter Fraser). Mr Sullivan thanked Mr Hunter and the assemblage for their kindly welcome. He was pleased to have the opportunity of visiting Wyndham. He was, he said, a firm believer in seeing things for himself and looking at the problems to be faced. Over 20 years’ experience in public affairs in Christchurch had taught him that where one could sit for hours discussing a matter in committee, one could probably solve the problem in hand by spending a few minutes going out to look at it. As Minister of Railways he was faced with a multiplicity of problems. He had travelled through the North Island and visited 150 different points there. He had just completed a tour of the West Coast and was at present touring Otago and Southland. When Mr Hunter started talking he was interested when he had said he had no grievances to bring forward, as this would have been the first occasion on which there were no requests to make. He jokingly remarked that he had asked Mr Mackley to get a photographer. However, as Mr Hunter had proceeded, he had seemed to deem it his duty to find something so he had sent the photographer away (laughter). The Government wanted to make the New Zealand

railway system one of the best in the world. This might seem high and vaunting, but there was no reason why it should not come to pass. There were good factors, such as a magnificent working staff, interested people, good climate, good soil, and everything available to build up a fine system. It just needed energy and courage, and the getting rid of the inferiority complex. The essential things were understanding and co-operation. The general manager and officials were out to make the railway system the highest ever, so there was every reason to work for this high conception of a great railways and industrial system. As he had passed through the splendid farming country of Otago and Southland, and met such substantial people, he had felt proud of being a New Zealander. Mr H. Hunter called for three cheers for the Minister, which were heartily given.