AT TASMAN.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13737, 27 March 1915, Page 5

AT TASMAN.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The Hen. W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, and party, »otgred througn Tasman on Thursday afternoon, for the purpose of j^pedang the various routes suggested for the new road from Nelson to Motueka via Ap, pleby, Bronte, Ruby Bay and Tasman. The party were received by Mr A. McKee, President of the local Fruit-o-rowers' Association, and a large number of settlers, the total number present being over 50. A petition was presented to the Minister, signed by a number of settlers and others, urging the Government to adopt what is known as the inland route, and a deputation having the same object in ■view consisting of Messrs J. B. Alien, Kirk Vollmer, and Stafford, waited on the Minister and briefly stated their

views. Mr Fraser, having asked a number of questions, intimated that the request of the petitioners would have due consideration. Later a deputation from the Tasman Fruitgrowers' Association, consisting of Messers McKee, Nottage, Allport, Vollmer, Kirk, Stafford, and Benzies, was introduced to the Minister.. Mr McKee, president of the association, stated that the deputation wa*» present to urge upon the Government the necessity of at once proceeding with the work of opening up a new provincial highway, to link up the ™«<>us parts of the Nelson province. In the absence of railway facilities, he claimed that the construction of this road was one of the greatest importance to the rapidly-developing fruitgrowing industry. The settlers had done wonders in opening up a large area of country which had been regarded -aa useless, had spent something like £50,000 in three years in developing the district, had constructed for themselves many miles of subdivisional roads, and were prepared to form themselves into a special rating area to improve the said roads, and maintain them. With regard to the proposed road to Nelson, his association had every confidence in the* Government engineers, and would gladly leave the final selection of the route in their hands, with the assistance of the Minister, whom they were all pleased to welcome to the district. He touched 4ilso on the very slow progress made with the Moutere Inlet road, and urged that the work begun over four years ago should be completed, and the road be made available for traffic. Mr H. Benzies also spoke, and advocated a complete revaluation of the district, with a view of increasing the amount of money available for use on the roads of the district. At the present time a number of settlers had had their rates substantially increased, while right alongside of them large landowners were paying an, absurdly small rate for exactly the same class of land. He.thought that the revaluation should be completed, or ;fche rates remitted in the case of the few settlers who had been rated on the new valuation. The settlers, as a whole, wanted to pay a fair share of the cost of their roads, but wanted a fair anji just valuation.

Mr H. Everett, chairman of the Waijnea County Council, and Ors. Hewefcson and Best, who were in attendance,

I explained that they had endeavoured lid get the' new valuation completed, , but the work had been stopped on ao: , count of the war. ' Mr. Fraser, in reply, said that the j Government of which he was a memher had laid down as a definite policy i that they would help those who were inclined to help themselves. He could see evidence of the rapid development of the district on every hand, and he was certain there was a great future for the- fruitgrowing industry, and the district. He could not promise to give to this district a greater measure of assistance than was granted to other districts similarly situated, but the department were most anxious to help those who had shown a determination to help themselves. He would look into the question of the stopping of the revaluation of the district. Personally he could see no reason why the work should be stopped if the people were prepared to accept the extra tax. He was surprised to hear that an attempt was being made to collect from a, small minority of the settlers a higher rate than that provailing elsewhere. Such tactics should [ cease, and the sooner the better. With ! regard to the routes of the proposed roads, his Department would give the matters before them every consideration, and he hoped that the decision arrived at would give general satisfaction and make for the general welfare of the district.

The visitors inspected the routes suggested, under the guidance of Mr W. Widdowson, Public Works Engineer, and later were entertained at afternoon tea, provided by. Mrs Stafford, of Ruby Bay, and a. number of ladies of the district. Cheers were given for Mr Fraser, and a vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies, and the party left at about 3.30 p.m. for Motueka, via the Moutere Inlet.