SO-CALLED "SPOON-FED" SETTLERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1565, 8 October 1912, Page 6

SO-CALLED "SPOON-FED" SETTLERS.

Sir, —The above term has, I believe, been used to describe the settlers in the Tangilu Improved Settlement Block, in the electorate of Mr. Wilson, M.P., for Taumarunui. 1 would like <to state a few facts that have been supplied to 1110 by one of these "spoon-fed"" settlers, who has been in the block about tlireo years or thereabouts. He states that the roads— ot, rather, tracks, for there roadsare in such a state that it seems improbable that they will be able to get their cream out to a factory. In fact, at the time of writing, September 29, they wero worse than they had been all the winter. He also states: "That a doctor wants from to X 25 to visit the settlement, and that? in advance. - Schools are made of canvas, and the children,.in rainy weather, have to carry'iu logs to put their feet oh.in order to keep them out of the water. Packing out to the settlement is charged'for' at the rate of from IQs. to los. per cwt. Also fencing wire at «£3 per ton more than uny retail man will supply it." In addition to these .facts, which, arc bad enough, my informant states that during the period he has been a settler there there have been eighteen'men and women carricd out over tracks that are simply awful for distances of from eight to fifteen miles. In. these times of luxury does it not seem awful that women and children should be suffering and dying under these conditions, when thousands and thousands have been spent on palatial I>uildings for the benefit of those more fortunate individuals who have selfishlv chosen the town wherein to easily pass their days. Is this democracy? Deputations in the past waited on tin* T. Mackenzie and M' Donald, and were , promised all they asked for, but that was the "end of it—their promises were piecrust. When one thinks that the main need, and aV.very pressing t one, is only about 17J miles of road, it seems monstrous that these women andchildrcn who arc helping' to build up this countiy of ours should bo condemned to .perpetual exile for the lack of a few miles of road. ; A. deputation was to wait on Mr. Massey j last week, and let us hope, for humanity s sake, that he was able to start' the needed road at once, aiid that in future he will adopt a roads-before-settlement policy, when thero is no doubt many a woman and child will live (o bless the .day. when the Hon. Mr. • Massey' took up' tho reins of' Government.—l "am, ; etc., • .