PUBLIC WORKS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1641, 19 May 1919, Page 9

PUBLIC WORKS.

DEPUTATIONS TO" MINISTER. Press Association. GISBORNE, May 17. Sir William Eraser, Minister of Public Works, had a busy day to-day with deputations from all quarters of the district, including many small local matters. - A request was made to the Minister for a grant of £50,000 and a'subsidy of £2 for £1 for the main arterial road, Whangapawa to Napier. Replying, Sir William. Fraser said he had gone through the Estimates, and found that £49,000 was set down for local bodies between Napier and-the East Coast. The sum did not include railways. If the money was not expended it was not his fault. It was due to the shortage of labour. He thought that the request for a subsidy of £2 for £1 was unreasonable. Another deputation urged the more rapid construction of the railways of the district. The Minister said the departmental engineer reported that he was not proceeding with the grading of the route north of Gisborne, the cost being not less than £25,000 to £30,000 per mile. The department could not entertain a work of such a costly nature. Speakers had urged him to increase wages to 14/- a day. He was not going to do it, because he would not compete with private employment. He was satisfied he could get men at 12/- a day, and saw no reason why in a year's time he should not have 4000 to 5000 men at his disposal. Land for soldiers was the subject of another deputation. The speakers said that over two million acres had been purchased in the Dominion, but very little in Poverty Bay. When the Conscription Act- came into force, the district had a surplus of 500 men. They were drafted to Canterbury and Otago, and it was considered that Poverty Bay was entitled to the same consideration

as these districts. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie was offered land at £lO an acre, but it was refused, and no reason given. Adjoining people had sold at £l4 10/- per acre.

The Minister said the matter would be referred to the Minister of Lands, who was the most earnest member of the Cabinet in this respect.