THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 270, 7 April 1913, Page 8

THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

, SATURDAY'S DOINGS. On Saturday the Prime Minister (Jftv Massey) vi.-d1...d H'uitnra m uie mornmg, receiving several deputations on district requirement.-,; thence lie proceeded to the Mountain House, via Ingle wood, spent a brief tjme at the hostelry, ami returned to Ingle wood, where lie wa.s accorded a complimentary luncliooit. In the afternoon lie visited the dwti'teta between that township and Stratford, iind in the evening went on to Hawera.

Unfortunately the notes of our representative who accompanied the party have gone astray in transit, and we aro unable to give in this issue a detailed account of the proceedings, At the Mountain House the party received a cordial reception from the chairman of the North Egmont Mountain House Committee (Mr. \\\ A. Colli*), Messrs. Newton King, Murdoch Frnaor, H. Stocker, and representatives of the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League. With the Minister were Messrs. H. Okey, M.P., C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., and J. iliue, M,P.

The Premier's health having been honored, Mr. King brought under the notice of the Minister the matter of securing the full amount promised by the Government toward* the cost of the House, the amount received being short by some £IOO of that promised. Mr. Massev expressed himself in favor of carrying out the original promise. Mr. Eraser pointed out that little Of no notice was being taken of the Mountain House and the other Taranaki tourist attractions by the Government Tourist Department. He asked "the Premier to take steps to prevent the district from being "side-tracked" iu this manner. Mr. T. C. LUt. chairman of the Expansion and Tourist League, supported thit request, and pointed out what the League was doing in the way of advertising the scenic resources of the province. The League was really doing work that the Tourist Department did for other places. That being so, he hoped the Government could see its way to subsidise the League in some measure. He also asked that New Plymouth to Auckland, and vice versa, be included in the passengers' luggage checking system. At present, luggage was checked from i Christchurch to Wellington, hut not from New Plymouth to Auckland. Mr. Lirt then referred to the preservation of the scenery of the Mokau river, which wan threatened with destruction, asking that the Government take immediate steps to gazette those portions that had already been surveyed.

Mr. Masscy promised enquiry would be made into the first two matters. Tn regard to i the Mokau river scenery, he agreed with what had. been said, and 1 sympathised with' the League's aim in the matter, but the Government, in order to resume the necessary land, was faced with an expenditure of something like £IO,OOO, a* sum which, candidly, it could not at present afford. Mr, List pointed out that most of river banks had no value at all from a pastoral point of view, and if the owners were patriotic they would not require compensation. As' a matter of faet, if the bush were destroyed slip* would probably occur that would have a serious effect on the course of the river, upon which they would have to depend for ingress and egress to their sections. Again, he understood that th« original owners of one block had offered to reserve the scenery from the water'* edge to the sky-line on their property without compensation from the Government. The land had afterwards changed hands, and he was not sure if the offer then made still held good. It was a pity the scenery on each side had not beeß all reserved years ago, as was the caae with the Wanganni river. Mr. Massey said he was not aware of the offer mentioned. The whole object had his sympathy, and he promised to see what could be done. Mr. Collis asked that a regular yearly grant be made bv the Government towards the cost of maintaining the road from the radius line to the house. The Premier promised to look into it. The partv partook of light refreshments and then proceeded to Inglewood. Mr. Massey expressed himself an jsrentlv impressed with the beauty of the place and the up-to-dateness and comfort of the hostelry, which waa * credit to the district and the people responsible) for its construction.