MINISTER ON TOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17981, 28 March 1930, Page 6

MINISTER ON TOUR.

IN RAGLAN ELECTORATE, MANY REQUESTS FOR GRANTS. SYMPATHY WITH “OUT-BACKS.** (Special Reporter.) WAINGARO, Friday. Expressions of gratitude for the consideration shown them were general wherever the Minister of Public Works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, travelled in the Raglan electorate yesterday. The Minister, who was accompanied by -Messrs W. Lee Martin, M.P., Campbell Johnstone (Raglan County Council chairman), J. Dyson ( Auckland District Engineer), Hall - Jones (Public Works engineer, Hamilton), K. Wright (Raglan County engineer), and several councillors, put in a fairly full day, leaving Rangiriri in the morning and travelling by way of Pukekawhia, Ruawaro, Naihe, Waimal, Te Akau, and Ruakiwi to Waingaro, where he spent the night. He inspected many roads, and received a number of deputations, to whose requests he listened carefully, and, where he considered ’ circumstances warranted him doing so, gave promises of assistanceAt each stop he was accorded a vote of'thanks by the settlers for the sympathetic hearing he gave to their requests. Settlement Without Drainage. A short distance out of Huntly, oh the road to Pukemiro, lies the Westmere settlement, peopled by miners. Quite a number of dwellings have been erected there, but the settlement is badly handicapped by reason of there being no proper system of drainage. A blind creek, with no outlet, runs round the settlement, and into this much of the drainage of - the settlement enters, thus causing a menace to health. Much of the land also floods in the winter time. Yesterday the Minister of Public Works was waited upon by a deputation, asking for a subsidy towards a drainage scheme. The Minister said it seemed to him that' the area was badly chosen for a settlement. Apparently it was a private subdivision, and no provision had been made for drainage. Mr J. Furniss (riding member) said it was proposed to raise a loan of £SOO if the Government would give* a subsidy of £ for £. The Minister agreed to give a £ for £ subsidy on a sum up to £SOO. The Minister was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his prompt antj businesslike offer. Overcrowded School. In what resembles n small lean-to over 40 children are housed daily for their schooling at a place called Pukekawhia, some miles inland from Huntly. The youngsters are crowded three and four in a desk, and worse schooling conditions probably could not be found anywhere in the Dominion. During his tour the Minister pulled up at the school, where a deputation urged him to use bis influence to have the conditions ameliorated. The Minister agreed that the conditions were very bad, but said schools were outside his province. He promised, however, to bring the matter to the notice of the Minister of Edu< cation. Sympathy with Backblock Settlors. At Ruawaro the Minister was asked by a deputation of Crown settlers for a subsidy of 30s in the £ towards metalling their road, and for permission to use gravel, which was handy, instead of heavier metal, as a surfacing material. It was pointed out that the settlers were practically isolated for four months of the year. They were quite willing to help themselves by submitting to a special rate or by giving their labour during the winter months. The Minister said he was pleased with the progress apparently made in the district, and he promised to grant a subsidy of 30s in the £. He had. he said, always sympathy with settlers who were doing their best but were hampered by a clay road- In making grants of more than the usual £1 for £i, he had, however, to consider the circumstances in which the settlers were placed, their ability to help themselves, and their degree of isolation. Th settlers were highly pleased with the Minister’s offer, and cheered him as he left. Grant to Naihe Settlers. Across the river, 20 miles from Huntlv, is the district- of Naihe, a valley* of rolling downs of excellent quality. The district is, however, approached' by a stretch of S§ miles of 1 Qlay road over difiicult country. On arrival at Naihe Mr Ransom was informed that lie was the first Minister to have visited the district. The settlers asked him for help to metal their clay road. The land, he •was told, would stand a rate for metalline:, provided some assistance was given by the Government. The road was not* merely a local one. It was rcallv a main outlet, and in these circumstances the settlers thought the Government might grant a subsidy oc £9 t 0 £i if sufficient properties could not be brought in to provide the balance, certain of the settlers, it was slated, would be prepared to make voluntary contributions. On these donations. 'it was suggested, that a subsidy of £3 to £i should be granted. The Minister said he was satisfied that the land would stand a rate Mr Smith said there was a reluctance on the part of people to settle m districts where there was no metalled roads- The settlers at present had to cart their requirements 20 miles Mr Campbell Johnstone (County chairman) iaid there:were great possibilities in the district which he was convinced would be developel very rapidly as ’a dairying centre if a metalled road were provided. The Minister thought the district was rated very lightly now, and that the land could carry a further rate for metalling. He was, however, prepared to grant a subsidy of £2 for £!-, though lie felt he was rather overdoing it when he came to reflect on the position in which some back districts w 7 ere placed, compared with this. He advised the settlers to buck in at once and raise their loan. They might, never have such an offer again Mr XV. Lee Martin, M.P., agreed that the offer was a generous one, and that the settlers would he wise do as the Minister advised.