MINISTERIAL VISIT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 209, 5 April 1913, Page 8

MINISTERIAL VISIT

BANQUET AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

AX ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING,

The complimentary banquet tendered to the Ministers in the Brougham Street Hall was attended by a representative gathering of citizens and settlers. The interior of the hall had been rea-Jlv beautifully adorned with decorative lanterns Hags and ferns. A first-class dinner having been disposed of, a very short toast list was discussed.

flie llau.r, Mr. C. W. Browne, presided. On hU right were the Prime Minister, Hon. W. F. Massey, Mr. Joseph Brown (Tanmaki County Council chairman), Hon. W. C. F. Carncross, M.L.C., Messrs. J. ]}. Hine, M.P., R. C. Hughes, C. K. Wilson, M.P. On his left the Hon. W. Eraser, Minister of Public Works Messrs. F. S. Johns, president of the laranaki Chamber of Commerce. J. B. Connett, chairman of the Now Plymouth Harbor Board. 'Newton King. 11. Okey, M.P., and C. Carter, New Zealand chairman of the Taranaki (N.Z.) Oil Wells, Ltd,

The toast of "The King" having been duly honored, the chairman welcomed the guests and regretted that their stay I was so short. He asked the Prime Minister to refer in his speech to the powers of local bodies in furnishing funds for district representation at the Auckland Exhibition, and to the visit of 11.M.5. New Zealand to New Plymouth. Apologies were received from Messrs. 11. Weston, C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., Hon T. Kelly, M.L.C., and Mr. C. H. Burgess. Mr. J. Brown, chairman of the Taranaki Countv Council, in proposing the toast of "The Parliament," said he was going to air some grievances. All knew the tremendous expense to which the county councils were put to in maintaining the Main South road, and he was glad to learn that in three months' time the Cabinet would give a definite reply as to whether or not the Opunake railway was going to be constructed. The Council had at one time proposed an electric tram round the Mountain, but the Government of that day had not encouraged the idea, demanding Gd per horse-power per month for the use of water from Bell's Falls. The speaker tonched on local government, and said he had been on local bodies for 27 years. He regretted the disappearance of the Loans to Local Bodies Act. It was regrettable that men were unwilling to serve on local bodies, but no doubt one reason was that the members of loeal bodhs were so of*en abused. The irri fating pinpricks of local government legislation made things unpleasant at times. Some comprehensive local government scheme was needed. There were too many local bodies, but the present laws did not facilitate their merging one into the other. He complained that a traction engine which helped to destroy I the roads could be imported duty free, I whereas a steam road roller, costing ] £BOO, had to pay £122 duty. That was unfair. Then the law did not allow local bodies to buy road machinery on I terms, but would allow the same local bodies to borrow the money from the banks. He referred to the bugbear of the port railway at New Plymouth. Taranaki should never rest until the control of the breakwater and the land at the root of it were wrested from the Government and again placed in the hands of the local bodies. The Premier received an enthusiastic greeting, hearty applause ending in three cheers. After thanking those present for this reception and for the toast, and for the kindly feelings prompting this complimentary banquet, he remarked that they had indeed been honored in Taranaki on this tour. They were going away with an exceedingly favorable impression of the district and a knowledge of its requirements. They had been pleased to see and to meet so'many of the inhabitants, old and young. He mentioned the pioneers, and said he would be glad to widen the scope of the Military Pensions Act so as to make it apply to all who could prove that they had fought in the early sixties in the Maori troubles.

Touching on requirements, he said the I great productiveness of the land made railways imperative. The railway line from the main line to Opunake was authorised, and it would be built. A trial survey would be made, and as soon as the finances would permit the line would be built. THE MOTUROA-OPUNAKE LINE was not yet authorised. It was necessary. But they were in doubt as to whether the finances of the country would permit of the construction of this line, and if not the local bodies would be empowered to build it. If the Government was not able to develop the country they would not prevent local authorities from doing it. The Premier then touched on THE WEST COAST LEASES, and said that although the Government had decided to deal with the matter, he could not yet say on what lines they would move, but lie would predict that the settlement would be satisfactory. It was remarkable that so many of these difficulties had been left to the Reform Party to deal with. But they would deal with them, and thus confer benefit on the people. Settling this difficulty would help development of the '< country. He announced that in this financial year 100,000 acres of Crown b'-mls in tlie land district of Taranaki <"ould be opened for settlement The Government would endeavor to increase production and the volume of exports, thus lightening the burden of taxation. THE BATTLESHIP. He explained that the movements of H.II. battleship New Zealand were uncertain, and worn beyond the control of Cabinet, who, however, could make re- 1 commendations as to the itinerary of the I vessel, and they would recommend that I she should visit New Plymouth. The Tutanekai would accompany the battleship, to act as a tender to "convey children and others to the vessel for' inspec- ' tion. (Applause.) I Nival defence was mentioned, on line I previously reported, the speaker stating I that the undefended state of our shores I . had to be remedied. Some better ar- K rangement was contemplated, and this ' t would bo made known when the Hon. i .Tames Allen returned. He hoped that I

before long 11.M.5. New Zealand would roiiMiin permanently in New Zealand waters. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. Referring to Mr. Brown's remarks, the Premier said tlie Government would do its duty in regard to loeal government reform. The moat serious defect in these laws lay in the system of Crown grants. It was a big matter to remedy, but they would try to remedy it, and to make other improvements in the law. Power would be given to county councils to buy land and erect homes for workers. As for duty on steam road rollers, lie would import the roller as a traction engine and escape the duly. Seriously, he considered these rollers should be imported duty free.

Finance was dealt with on the lines of the Premier's Stratford speech, again stressing the liberal expenditure on roading during the past year. . THE LAND QUESTION.

Touching on the land question, Mr. Massey said the Reform Party had, as pledged, changed the land policy from leasehold to freehold. Tenants of Crown lands had been given the right to convert their leases to freehold. Next session lessees of settlement lands under 'ease in perpetuity would be given a simi lar opportunity. But the settlers under renewable lease could have no right to the freehold, for land so occupied was endowment land. He had no objection to people taking' these renewable leases, so long as they knew what they were doing. Mr. Massey fully explained the recent Southland land incident. He complained that the land legislation of the Government was being misrepresented in the Opposition press. The intention of the law of New Zealand since 1873 was that the Crown had the right to take any mineral-bearing lands, but he would not like to say that this was the effect of the law. His attention had been called to the fact that in some districts aggregation was going on. He had no objection to any man owning any i amount of land, so long as he was developing the land. But in some disI triets land-owners had absorbed the surrounding farms, closing creamery and i school. This Government would not have J that sort of thing. It wanted subi division. A return was being prepared to show the amount of subdivision going . on, and its contents would be a surprise to many. The Government would, if necessary, introduce legislation to allow local bodies to make expenditure for the purpose of being represented at the Auckland Exhibition. He hoped Taranaki would be well represented there. Mr. Massey stressed the point that we must, keep up the credit of the country. Unfortunately, this Government had been able to use very little money .from the Post Office Savings Bank. At the last Cabinet meeting It was decided to increase the rate ot interest, in ithe Post Office Saving Bank by one-quarter per cent, on sums under £3OO.

, THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, i The Hon. W. Fraser also met with a hearty reception. He dealt with finance briefly. He had heard it said that with Ithe three millions loan borrowed surely the Government could give settlers what money was required. Nothing of the sort;"all that £3,000,000, and more', was pledged to provide for last year's Estimates. That placed on him as Minister the responsibility of fulfilling those engagements before making fresh ones. But before long he hoped there would again be money for lending out at cheap rates to local bodies. While it had been stated that the previous Government left money for expenditure, it was not stated that the liabilities far exceeded the amount left. The hon. gentleman, concluding, referred to the great productivity of Taranaki, which should carry an even larger population. But that would necessitate better means of , communication, and if he were given the opportunity he would effect the necessary improvement. In conclusion, he said the Reform Party had but one object: to further the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people living in it. (Applause.)

Mr. F. S. Johns, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, thanked the Ministers for their visit and for their attention to all matters brought before them. On behalf of tile joint hosts (the Mayor, county chairman, and himself) he thanked the very representative gath.' ering of town and country settlers.

The Premier then gave a toast, "The two Browns," the Mayor and the county chairman, whom he heartilv eulogised. The replies were brief, Mr. J. Brown saying "the cow and the deferred payment system had made Taranaki." Then the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close. FURTHER DEPUTATIONS. A CASE OF DISTRESS. Mr. J. L. R. Stanford waited upon the Minister of Public Works with reference to the alleged injustice being done to a settler of Whangamomona. As soliciitor for the petitioner, Mr. Stanford [pointed out that the Public Works Department had taken all the flat land on his section for the station at Whangamomona, leaving his land without a frontage to the road. The result was that he had been unable to work his farm for the last two years. The petitioner asked, added the speaker, that in lieu of compensation the Government should take over his section.

In reply, the Minister promised to look into the matter, but at the same time pointed out that the matter should have been put before the Department when the railway reserve was laid out. [ The matter was also mentioned to the Prime Minister, who, in promising to go into the petitioner's request, said that he would at least see that the portion of the flat land not in use by th« Department would be returned to the petitioner. TOKO RESERVE. A deputation from the Borough Council, which waited on the Hon. Mr. Eraser, was introduced by the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Browne), and had to do with the metal quarry on the Council's reserve at Toko. | ! Speaking on behalf of the Council, Mr. F. V. Corkill said that ten years ago it was discovered that the reserve contained very valuable deposits of metal. The Public Works Department obtained the right to temporarily occupy the land, rm the understanding that the Council would be supplied with data with which

to formulate its claim for compensation. | Nine years went by, and enormous quan- I tities of metal were taken from the \ quarry, but all applications by the Council for information had been turned down. The Council did not receive a penny piece, and consequently it asked the Department to take over the quarry under the Public Works Act. This the Department had done, but it still consistently refused to supply the Council with data, which was indispensable in the compilation of its claim for compensation.

The Minister promised to go carefully into the whole matter. THE ECMONT ROAD.

Mr. H. Trimble (chairman of the Moa Road Board) and Mr. A. Morton (a ratepayer in the district) waited on the Minister in support of a grant of £SO for the Egmont road. Thy deputation pointed out that the tourist traffic was cutting up the road.—The Minister promised to look into the matter. EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Several educational matters were made the subject of a deputation of two—Messrs. H. Trimble, chairman, and P. S. Whitcombe, secretary—from the Taranaki Education Board.

The delay of the Education Department in making a grant for the erection of a school at Vogeltown was mentioned by Mr. Trimble, who was advised by the Minister to again approach headquarters.

The proposal of the Board to establish observation schools in the district for the training of inexperienced teachers was also brought under the notice of the Minister. The Board would, he said, like to pay higher salaries to these teachers than at present allowed, in order to enable them to attend these schools. The idea was to put young teachers in these institutions for a short time.—Mr. Massey pointed out that it would take a special Act of Parliament to do what was asked.

Mr. Trimble added that another grievance was that their district was too small. They wanted to make it embrace the whole of the Taranaki Province. This would require the absorption of a. portion of the Auckland and Wanganui districts. The Board always felt that it had been imposed upon. In reply, Mr. Massey said that the question was: Were the Auckland and Wanganui Boards willing to concede their respective portions of Taranaki? He doubted it, especially in the case of Wanganui. A 9 regards Auckland, the Minister said it was recognised that this district was far too large. He thought, however, that the situation would be met by the creation of another education district, somewhere between Taranaki and Auckland.