COUNTRY ROADS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1601, 19 November 1912, Page 7

COUNTRY ROADS.

— « STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph.—Press dissociation.) Auckland, November 18. A deputation of representatives from tho Auckland Industrial Association and Chambol' of Commerce waited upon tiie Prime Minister, and placed before him resolutions passed at a recent conference of tho two bodies with reference to the roading question. "The views of the deputation," said Mr. Massey in reply, "are largely my views." He went on to say that roading before settlement was a good principle, but where men had no capital the Government found it necessary to givo settlers something to do. He pointed out that Parliamentary grants now for roading were no less than the average for some years past, and he was pleased to say legislation had been passed only this year for further assisting settlors, in new country. Mr. Massey quoted a section of the Stato-Guarantesd Advances Act, which provided that a sum not exceeding ,£250,000 should Ira set aside yearly for roading by local bodies for development purposes. Next year Parliament would be asked to consider n Local Bodies Bill, which would contain provision for the taking ovor of such arterial roads as wero recommended by the Public Works Department. Referring to tlio King Country, the Prime Minister said that more money had been spent there for development purposes, particularly in Taumarunni district, than in any other electorate. Tho Government fully recognised, he concluded, the importance of opening up country by roads whore dairying was possible. '