WAIKATO M.P. ON TOUR.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1394, 19 May 1923, Page 5

WAIKATO M.P. ON TOUR.

: VISIT TO THE KWVii!'. DISTRICT. - B'.' Our Spec: A Correspondent.) J OPA RAF, Friday. Mr F. Lye. M.P.. paid a visit to I Kawhia district this week, leaving Te A wanin'it ni Tuesday morning with | little prospects of getting through to bis destination owing to the had condilion of the roads. The journey was ! accomplished, however, in remarkably ! good time, arriving at Oparau at I j o'clock where ho was met by about I thirty settlers. ) The Oparau Settlers' Association j welcomed Mr Lye to the district. Mr I Sandilamls, the president, at the meeting in the hall, stated that the district had suffered severely through the lack of a good metalled road to the railway. The Moerangi extension road was freely discussed, and it was stated that the grades on this road were easy, and only two bridges were required: in fact (be timber for one of the structures had been lying at i Oparau for several years- Other matI ters of local importance were also I I brought before the notice of the member. Mr Lye stated that he was in i full sympathy with their needs and requirements. He recognised that ; the settlement and development of their district was largely dependent j on good roads. Mr Lye was heartily | thanked for his visit, and for the in- ' terest that he had taken in the various matters brought before him that ! pertained to the welfare of his consituents in that locality. On Wednesday morning Mr Lye went by special launch to Awaroa. j and there was met by Mo settlers of the district. Mr J. Noonon, president i of the Settlers' Association, in in- j troducing the member, thanked him for the prompt manner in which ht ' dealt with correspondence relative to J the district. He stated that many promises had been given from time j to time, as to metalling the main coast road, but these promises had never been fulfilled. Later the member visited the Awaroa school, a struc- ! tn re mainly composed of packing j cases and jam boxes, with advertise- j meats appearing all over it—some j cheap advertising for wholesale firms. 1 The outside of the building is covered with some sort of rubber material. and is so perished that it won’t hold a tack. It is only those who have seen the edifice who can realise I .just what hack-block settlers and j their children have to contend with ! in the cause of education.

Over one hundred people attended a meeting held at Kawhia in the evening. Mr Langley, chairman of the Town Board, presided. Mr Lye briefly addressed the meeting, stating that his object in visiting the further portions of his electorate was to obtain a first-hand knowledge of the requirements of each locality. Mr Langley, on behalf of the Town Board, thanked the member for his visit and his obvious interest in their welfare. Mr Chase, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr Oldbury conveyed to the member their sincere thanks for his visit. The meeting terminated with hearty cheers for the M.P.