OTANGIWAI MAILS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1935, Page 8

OTANGIWAI MAILS

DISCUSSION OF DELIVERIES. RATEPAYERS’ MEETING HELD. The monthly meeting of the Otangiwai Ratepayers’ Association was held on Saturday, when the president, Mr. J. C. Higgie, presided over a good attendance. Crs. Renner, Ryan and Pleasants were present. The Hon; A. Hamilton wrote stating that since the request of the association for a thrice weekly mail service had been granted, a petition had been received asking for a twice-weekly service to include all the by-roads of the district. As the request of the association for these to be included had already been refused on the grounds that the revenue from them was too small to warrant an extension and as the petition seemed to favour the old twice weekly service he asked for the views of the association towards reverting to the old schedule. Mr. Fauchelle considered the department was not fulfilling its original contract as by it all by roads were included and had originally received delivery. Of late years they had been omitted.

Mr. Pleasants said there was an area of 12 miles between the terminus of the Matiere delivery and the Aria delivery, with 10 families totalling 60 people on it, which received no service of any sort. Mr. J. Higgie srid that when the Otangiwai post office was done away with it was proposed that Niho Niho also be abolished and a daily delivery cover the two areas. This would be the best proposition. It was decided to inform the department that the settlers strongly preferred a bi-weekly service to include all side roads, but that on no account were they prepared to give up a thrice-weekly service over the existing route if their efforts in the other direction were not confirmed. In reply to representations the Minister of Employment wrote asking for instances of farmers in the district experiencing difficulty in securing labour for essential farm work, stating that if these could be given the Unemployment Board would provide suitable meh provided the wages and conditions of employment were reasonable. Mr. R. Etherington stated that though considerable difficulty had been experienced most farmers were by now provided for, but the position might again arise any day. Other members stressed the difficulties they had met before securing necessary labour. Mr. L. S. Fauchelle considered that as long as camps existed young men wbuld never be available for farm labour. Various instances of farmers in the district who could not secure labour were mentioned and it was decided that any farmer requiring farm labour should communicate with the secretary and requests would be forwarded to the board to be fulfilled.