MR MASSEY ON TOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 6

MR MASSEY ON TOUR.

VISIT TO NORTH CANTER. BURY.

A tour of country districts of North Canterbury made by the Prime Minister yesterday proved highly successful. The chief stops were made at Kaiapoi, Amberley, Waikari, Rangiora, and Oxford. A note of optimism regarding the farms of Canterbury was apparent in his speeches. Everywhere he was well received. The party set out from Christchurch at S a.m. and returned just before 9 p.m. It consisted of tho Prim© Minister and Miss Massey, Miss Piper, Hon It. Moore and Mrs Moore, Mr D- Jones, M.P., and Mrs Jones, Mr J. Thompson (the Prime Minister’s private secretary), Messrs It. Evans. O. T. Evans, H. E. Evans. A. W. Jamieson, J. O. Coop, NY- Parkinson, L. Rutherford, and \Y. 11. Nicholson (the four lastnamed representing the Sheep Owners’ Federation) and Air H. J. Livingstone (secretary of the Reform Party).

BELFAST REQUIREMENTS. ! At tho Belfast station the Prime Minister was met by a deputation from 1 the Belfast branch of the Canterbury Progress League, consisting of Messrs ! F. Hansen (president), J. Cleland, and \Y. A. Nicholls. Mr Hanson said that improved facili- ; ties were required afc the station. At 9.20 a.m. each day up and down trains stopped at the station. The train from Christchurch went over to the second j set of rails, and passengers had to get out and pas 3 over the lines among trucks. This was both dangerous and undesirable. Further, there existed an unhealthy drain which it was desired should be remedied. Improvement of j housing conditions was needed. It was j impossible for workers in Belfast to ■ get houses. He suggested that instead . of building seventy-five houses in the Papanui settlement, fifteen of them 1 should be erected in Belfast. • Air Cleland said that improvement i was needed in the water service at the ‘ station. The Prime Minister promised to look I into tho matters brought before him. j KAIAPOI HARBOUR AND HOUSING. I A representative gathering greeted the Prime AJinijJfcer at the lvaiapoi Borough Council Chambers. The Mayor (Mr J. H. Blackwell) heartily welcomed Air Massey. He made reference to tho importance of ; the woollen and freezing works estabj lished in Kaiapoi, and said that tho : Kaiapoi people had reason to thank the . Government for the consideration given j to requests placed before Parliament by I their energetic member, Air D. Jones, j Unforseen delays had occurred in the ! State house-building at Kaiapoi, and 1 he hoped that every effort would be ! made to expedite the work. The woclI lon works would probably be twice as ! large as they were if it were not for j the shortage of labour and tho sliortj age of houses. He hoped that the ques- ; tion of the development of Kaiapoi’s • river and potential port would be given favourable consideration. The erection of a training wall and connection of the river with the railway were the oustanding points. ‘W'e know the important mission on which you are about to enter by taking part in the Imperial Conference,” said Air Blackwell. “Jn that lam sure you wall have the good wishes of everyone in New Zealand, and that the same spirit that carried us through the war "’ill enable us to face the great problems of the future.” Air D. Jones. AT-P.. said be hoped that the Prime .Minister would take into consideration the forbearance of Kaiapoi in the matter of expenditure, and do the things that had been asked for. The slioitage of houses was solely due to the absence of tenders for the erection of the houses. Replying, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation of the welcome. He said he recognised that it was desirable that he should see as much as possible ; of the country, and he had drawn up quite a lengthy programme for this year, but it had all been upset by his sudden call to the Imperial Conference, lie had noticed years ago that there was tho making of a port at Kaiapoi, and he hoped that it would be possible to construct it soon. In regard to housing, building was gradually overtaking the demand. When the Government asked for tenders for houses recently it had experienced not nearly the same difficulty in getting satisfactory tenders. “I have.no doubt.”M)e said, “ that we shall have sufficient ! housing accommodation for our popujla tion before very long. People have j often said that we should not brin<r imI migrants here before we have housing ! for them. lam not of that opinion, because I believe immigrants will help in the building.” Air Massey added that he hoped that when he returned from the Imperial Conference he would be able to devote more time to visiting country districts. “Prospect Farm,” a poultry run, about three miles out of Kaiapoi, owned by Air P. R. Wliitford. a returned ; soldier, was inspected bv the party. It j was stated that some 3000 birds were being kept at the farm, i School children lined up by the roadside at Amberley. greeted the Prime : Minister. He addressed them briefly, , telling them to work hard and play i hard- After a word with the teacher ! in charge of them, ho announced that j they would be given a holiday for the rest of the day. ('Loud and spontane- ; ous cheers.)

AMBERLEY, ELECTRICITY AND ROADS. Morning tea was provided by the Amberley Town B&ard and Kowhai County Council. An apology for absence was received from Air G. Forbes. M.P. A welcome to Air Massey was extended by Air AY. If. Hale, chairman of the County Council. Air G. R. Holton, chairman of the Amberley Town Board, referred to the need of hydro-electriaity, and the maintenance of main roads. Air G. D. Greenwood proposed the toast, “ Tho Premier of New Zealand.” He spoke of Air Alassey’s services to the country in highly appreciative terms Me pressed upon the Prime Alinister the claims of the Kaiapoi harbour scheme. He said that the estimated cost of making the harbour effective was only a “ fleabite ” —about £40,000. Mr Alassey expressed appreciation of his welcome. He said that nothing pleased him so much as that the district had nothing to ask for. “ I can assure you. ladies and gentlemen, that I am not likely to forget it!” he added. (Laughter). He said he had had ihe Kaiapoi harbour scheme in his mind for a long time past. While he was in England he had visited various ports, and had seen what could be done in making harbours. For instance, it had once been possible for boys to wad© across the Clyde.

ENTERTAINED AT WAIKARI. A luncheon was partaken of at Waikari, the party being the guests of the W aikari County Council. Mr N. D. Campbell, chairman of the County Council, said that the residents of Waikari Avere highly delighted to honour the Prime AI inis ter of New Zealand. He proposed the toast, “Our Parliament.” Mr Massey said that during his few days in Canterburv he had met with the utrhoSt kindness. He was very glad to notice the apparent prosperity of the province. “ 1 know,” he said, “ that some of the farmers are having a bad time. I don’t think that it is so bad here ns it is in the North Island, where they grow coarse wool. Wo are going to he short on wool this -year, but this will be made up to a conY.uuabk- extent by butter and cheese We must pay our way. or else there

will be trouble for everyone concerned. Honestly, lam more sanguine now than 1 was a fortnight ago. 1 am more sanguine, that is to aa3 T , after seeing the state of this part of the country. The wheat crops are good—there is no doubt of that —ami you produce fin© wools here, for which- . the prices are g00.d.” He unshed to say how much his wife and daughter and friends had enjoyed tlieir .trip. He would take an early opportunity of re-visiting Canterbury, if possible. Air I>. Jones, ALP., in the absence of Air Forbes, proposed the toast, “ The YVaipara, County Council.” He said that members of the council gave their services gratuitously, and worked efficiently. They had displaj’ed a fine spirit of self-reliance in the works they liad carried out. Air Campbell replied. 011 behalf of the County Council. Air R. Evans, formerly a chairman of the council, also spoke. “I must say one thing about the Government in power,” he said- “ They say quite good things to the members that support them. This Government have given us more to help us than any previous Government have given us. AYe have at the present time six grants that we have not made use of. We did not think at tho time they were given that if was the time to spend them economically.” Afr Jones proposed the toast, ‘‘The Ladies.” Waikari school children were addressed by the Prime Minister and granted a holiday. Alisa Reader, daughter of the chairman of the School Committee, and little Afargaret Lindsay presented bouquets to Aliss Alassey, and iShiela Earl presented a bouquet to Airs Jones. AT RANGIORA.

A school agricultural farm afc Rangiora was inspected by Air Alassey, and he then addressed pupils of tho Rangiora High School, the Rangiora Borough School, and Southbrook and technical classes, who gathered to welcome him. Air W. A. Banks said that the High School in Air wSeddon’s time was of a. “literary” character. It lied been changed into an up-to-date school for farmers’ boys and girls. “We have had a certain amount of opposition from the Education Department in Wellington,” he said. “ That Department, so far as rural education is concerned, is certainly behind the times. Here we now have a technical school, agricultural classes, commercial classes and matriculation classes, and there is no need for a boy or girl in this district to go to Christchurch for education.” The school had been very successful in examination results. The Prime Alinister ssid that during the war it was not possible to do much for education, but since then very considerable leeway had been made up in providing new school buildings. There was a great- deal yet to do. He expressed appreciation of the agricultural instruction given at the school. “ It is quite evident that your teaching is not intended to prevent pupils taking off their coats and collars in after life,” said Afr Alassey. “Your farmers will he better farmers for what thev have learned.” Afternoon tea was supplied in The AI ay or of Rangiora (Mr C. I. Jennines) welcomed the Prime Alinister. Ho said that they had admired the way in which lie had conducted the affairs of the country.. They felt sure that- at the Imperial Conference h© V'ould uphold hi« credit and the credit of the countrv. They in Rangiora had not troubled the Government much, and were grateful for the assistance that had been piven. The improvement of the Post Office was a matter which might profitably* he considered. Air Alassey, who was received with applause, said he believed it was nine years since lie visited Rangiora. He hoped it would not be so long before he again visited the township. After three cheers the partv left for Oxford.

OXFORD REQUESTS. Tea was supplied in the Coronation Hall, Oxford. Air R. F. Henderson, chairman of the Oxford County Council, welcomed, the Prime Alinisler. Air D. Hawke said that plans had been drawn up for a central railway station, which would come about half way between the East and West Oxford stations, and right behind the stockyards. He asked that the w’ork of constructing the station should be put in hand. Mr Henderson said that two bridges were needou in the district—over Cooper’s Creek and Gammon’s Greek. A vote for tne Cooper’s Creek bridge had been made and the council’s quota was ready- The council had paid a deposit on Gammon’s Greek twelve months ago. Electric current was desired in Oxford. He understod that it was the intention of the Department to lay a line through Oxford and he hoped that the Lake Coleridge works would be enlarged as much as possible. Air H. F. Francis spoke on behalf of soldier settlers in Valley and Snowdale. He said that the road to these places was greatly appreciated. They were running flocks of 1600 to 2000 each, and good communication was essential. Bridges for the Ashley and Whistler rivers were desired. The rivers had to he crossed in three places, and in tim© of heavy flooding communication was cut off. Further, there was no telephonic communication, although it was most essential. Some sort of a mail service was also needed. There were about unirtv residents in’ tho settlements. Settlers had had to pay big bills for fencing, and they were wondering if the Government could let them have it at a rate lower than the market rate; also roofing iron on similar terms- He wished to thank the Government sincerely for the work it had done for them. Air L>. Jones, Af.P., said that U*> considered the requests reasonable. Me knew few districts in Canterbury so progressive and self-reliant as Oxford. Up to the present the cities had been getting undue advantage in the supply of electric current. Probably that was because they were able to give a better deal so far as the State was concerned than the country but in the country they had particular needs, and were entitled, to a fair proportion of the power. Air Alassey said he thought the requests moderate and reasonable. He understood that a promise had been made in regard to the central railway station. He was going to make sure that east would meet tvest in the OxiLrd district. He was very glad to hear a representative of the soldier settlers at Lees Valley. Every report from the valley showed that the men were a very plucky lot of fellows. The Government had not let them down up to the present, and w’as not going to let them down now. He would see the head of the Postal Department to ascertain if improvements could be made in respect of the Lees Valley services before the coming winter. The work of erecting the Ashley and Whistler bridges would be proceeded with as soon as possible, as also would the work on the Cooper’s and Gammon’s Creeks bridges. Ho was fully seized with the importance of hydro-electrical development. He looked forward to the time when every settler in New Zealand would bo able to have his house lit by electricity produced by the water at present lying idle or running to waste. “ And it will be done,” h© said. “Of course, it takes some little * timo to get the head works going. Several works are in hand which we cannot expect to get started for the next five years, but we are going on with them- We intend making use of every ounce of water running to waste at Lake Coleridge at present.” Oxford was a place where development was taking place, and it was tlie duty of t.h*> Government to help. Air H. C. Cooper proposed a hearty

vote of thanks to the Prime Minister. It was carried with applause.

A WESTPORT INVITATION. PPer Press* Association.] WESTPORT, February 15. At a public meeting presided over by the Mayor, Mr Menzies. to-night, it was resolved to urge Mr Massey to extend his stay at Westport in view of the Government legislation last session taking over the Westport Harbour Board in April. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and made preliminary arrangements for giving the Prime Minister a cordial reception. A hope was expressed that he would spare sufficient time for a run round all the district.