NO HOPE HELD OUT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 78, 15 June 1928, Page 6

NO HOPE HELD OUT

MOUNTAIN HOUSE ROAD.

LETTER FROM MINISTER

Mr E. Walter, MiP., has received ■tho following letter from the Hon. K. S Williams, 1 Minister of Public Works:—

I Hive to advise that the Hon. the Minister of Agriculture received a letter dated the 4th inst. from the secretary Egmont National Park Board, requesting that a (grant ■of £3500,' which appeared on the Estimates in 1913 for the construction of the East Mountain House road, be reinstated. The - Hon. Mr Hawkcn referred the matter to me, with a request that I reply direct to you. The position concerning this'matter is that a grant of £3500 was placed on tho Estimates in 1913, and neve? expended, and, upon enquiring into the matter", I find that the item was included only on the understanding that the then newly-formed Hostel Company was to obtain a suitable lease and erect a hostel. This, however, was not accomplished by the company, and, for thit reason, the item was deleted from the Estimates. During the past few years numerous applications for the reinstatement of that amount have been received from interested parties, but it has been the opinion of the Government that the expenditure of Government funds on this work should not be authorised until such time as the company, has acquired a lease and erect the hostel. On again enquiring into the matter, it Is found that the position at date remains unaltered, - and I regret to state, therefore, that I cannot at the present time, see my way to favourably consider the provision of the desired grant." ' , It will be noted from the n*ove that the Minister is- dealing; with la letter sent by the Park Board to Hon. 0. J. Hawken, and not with the representations made in Stratford to the Hon. A. D. Mcleod when tho matter was fully explain**. (t appears that the Hon. K.S. Williams is not dealing with those r'trtieulai representations.