CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 13

CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS

POSITION OF NATIVE LANDS,

The matter of obtaining Government assistance in respect to the reading of native lands in European occupation is a question of the deepest interest to this district, inasmuch as there are certain localities.- where the greater portion of settlement is of this character, says an Auckland "Herald" correspondent, telegraphing from Te Kuiti. In ceifain cases native lands are served by roads put through to Crown settlements, but there has been, no attempt to construct tho roads on a system which would eventually work in with a proper reading scheme for tho whole district. Hie fact that Crown and native blocks are mixed throughout the district has led to a somewhat complicated position, and,settlers find it difficult to understand tho policy of the authorities concerning tho matter. Tho subject was referred to by the Hon. W. Frascr, Minister of Public Works, in replying to a deputation at Te Kuiti, on Friday. Tho Minister said the Government recognised no responsibilities to provide roads and bridges giving access to lands taken up from tho native owners. After the Crown settlers had been served by roads, if there was any money available, the native lands could te considered.

Unfortunately (adds the correspondent) the position is not so simple as would appear from the Ministerial statement of policy: Nativo lands are bonefited by the construction of roads if they' happen to bo in the vicinity of a block of Crown land which is being opened_ up for settlement, and the perpetuation of this system, without mat ing any attempt to deal comprehensively with the roadiug of the whole district, is creating an incomplete and patchwork system of roads. It is felt that the Government, either alono or in co-operation with the local authorities, could evolve a satisfactory scheme, carrying little or no ,more financial responsibility than is-at present the case, which would have the effect of roading the district systematically, irrespective of the original title of the lands involved. Tlio policy hitherto adopted by the Government is merely a provocation to the settlers to find reasons or arguments sufficiently strong to induce the Minister to provide assistance in certain cases. In cases where the settlers may not possess the knowledge or initiative to state an attractive case, or where they arc not in the "icinity of unopened Crown land, they will apparently have to do without roads or construct them without assistance fn.m the Government or from the native ownerß.