THE SUPREME NEED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 11

THE SUPREME NEED.

ACCESS TO SETTLERS' HOLDINGS. From Mapui, out from Taumarunui, in the King Country, conies this letter. The writer is Mr. L. J. Bacon:— I.—This is a very new settlement, and schools.are working under very difficult conditions at present. 2.—No, Roads are 60 bad that it takes from ljd. to 2d. per lb. to pack our but-ter-fat to the railways, where it is worth lid. per lb. 3.—Possibly from tlio railway. Certainly not from tho roads, which are mostly non-existent. i— Yes, postal and telephone services satisfactory. 5— Not to my knowledge is any direct benefit being received here from A. and P. Shotts. G.—No direct benefit from the Department of Agriculture, but it is possibly tho fault of the settlers not taking advantage of the services of the Department. 7.—No buying or selling organisation in this district. 8, 9, and 10.—Questions do not apply to this settlement. All small farmers on new bush sections.

11.—Roads first, last, and all the time. The road question looms so large tliat it overshadows everything elso in new bush country. Either roads should bo made before settlement, or, if that is not practicable, no effort or expense should be spared to make roads as soon as possible. A settler should not have to wait years for a deoent road to Ms holding. The land should, of course, bear the cost of this, and so long as the rent of the land covers the cost of the laud to the Government, costs of survey and settlement, and interest on cost of reading, it is still good business for the State. A settler going on to new bush oountry has a hard enough time for the first few years— breaking-in the land—without having to contend with miles of mud roads. You will be doing great service to all backblockers if you emphasise the supreme importance of the road question.