DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2150, 27 March 1908, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS TO THE PREMIER.

THE IRONWORKS ASSOCIATION.

• EXCLUSION OF INFECTED FRUIT.

(Per Press Association.) , AUCKLAND, Alarcli 26. A deputation from the Ironworks Association asked tho Premier to extend tho time for receiving teudors for motor launches for the Defence Department one week, to onable New Zealand makers to tenderj also to specify engines besides those -now stipulated. The Premier promised to accedo to the request. The Premier, in answer to -a deputation of fruitgjowiirs, said- that he recognised- tho importance of excluding dangerous pests. As far as the Government was concerned, it would not allow any risks to be run. If tb. j present restrictions were not sufficient, they were prepared to go further in tho direction of tho exclusion of infected fruit. As to the request that the industry should have a representative in the Legislative Council, the Premier said he could give no promise, but wouJM give their representation consideration.

AUCKLAND RAILWAYS LEAGUE,

Press Association. AUCKLAND, Alarch 26. A deputation consisting of nearly one hundred members of the Auckland Railway League waited on the Premier to-day to urge the claims of the provincial railways. Air. G. L. Peacocke, touching ou the Alain Trunk line, said that they all recognised’ that the Government was doing all in its power to complete connections between Auckland and Wellington by tho end of next year. Efforts, however, should be made to hurry oil tho contractor for the Makatote viaduct. He mentioned that with regard to the proposed connection with the main line to Taranaki, there was a suggestion to deviate it to. a point further south than that originally intended. It was felt here that tho Ongarue connection was the most advantageous. He thought work might be commenced from the Ongarue end as well as from Stratford. Coming to the North Auckland line, everyone appreciated the efforts of the Government in pushing ou this line. The non-completion of the Alain Trunk line, however, prevented the Government from spending as much as they would otherwise desire. Its completion, however, was an urgent necessity, for when the line reached Alaungaturoto it would become more profitable, and for this reason he urged that the vote for this line should be as large as possible. Referring to the East- Coast railway he said that this line would open up large areas which were simply held back by lack of communication. Sir Joseph AVard, in re-' 1 - said that in the first place he wanted to say that there could be uo doubt that the North Island Alaiu Trunk line would be carried through in the time stated by the Government unless there was. a very bad winter which would make it impossible for the work to be carried on, but even in this case the delay would be a short one. The line should be connected with Auckland before Christmas next. (Applause.) There was £330,000 in course of expenditure now, and another £170,000 would be spent by the Government before the completion of the railway. An expenditure of £50,000 upon railway construction within this period was liiiprecedented in New Zealand. Continuing, Sir Joseph pointed out that they had to make railway appropriations for a great many parts of New Zealand. One railway in the north which should be completed, and he had not heard its claims urged that day, was the closing of the gap between Kawakawa and Hukerenui. Here were two ends of a- railway line which were paying, but which would be doing far better when completed. One of the disabilities under which the North had suffered, as compared with the South in railway construction, was chat when Sir Julius Vogel’s public works policy was in progress the lines in the north were delayed by the fact that the lines could not be made through a portion of the nativeowned country, but the Government was doing its best to overcome the disparity. Regarding the rumor that the Stratford-Ongarue route was to be changed, ho said that nothing definite had been decided. The line would receive the fullest consideration of the Government, which was doing all in dts power to assist those in- the north to obtain facilities which they recognised were required. They would try to treat the country as a whole fairly, and there would'be no “political” lines.