DISTRICT NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 239, 3 July 1919, Page 6

DISTRICT NEEDS

SOME LARGE ORDERS

REMITS TO LOCAL BODIES'

CONFERENCE

The conference between representatives of load bodies and chambers of commerce in the Wellington province resumed its sessions at the Farmers' Institute yesterday morning. Mr. C. M. Luke (president of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce) occupied the chair. Packakariki Road. Mr. A. Hunt (Wellington) moved: "That the question of deviation and the improvement of main roads between Wellington city and Paekakariki on the one side, and Wellington city and Featherslon on the other side, be"favourably considered by Hie conference for submission to a proposed board of engineering and commercial experts if such is set up by the Government." „ Mr. G. W. Cobb (Featherston) moved Unit the remit be amended to provide for the submission of the question to the local bodies and (heir engineers, instead of to the proposed board. Mr. n. F. Toogood (Fealherston) thought that it would lie sufficient if the local bodies concerned co-operated amicably in remedying present defects. The use" of the road by the general public other than residents of the district could be covered by a subsidy from Ihe Government. Mr. Hunt was granted permission to niter his motion by prefacing (he .vords "that on the assumption that the Government will agree to undertake the construction of main roads . . •' Mr. Cobb withdrew his amendment. Mr. L. A. Edwards said that 'he Pnekakariki Road was a. disgrace to our civilisation. Mr. E. H. Crabb (Palmerston North) moved the following amendment:. '"1 ha - the conference urges upon the Government the necessity of improving the road access to tho capital city, especially referring to the dangerous nature or the Packakariki Hill and the Rimutnka Hill, and asks for the appointment of a commission to inquire into the best way of accomplishing the same, with a view to remedviiig the mailer forthwith, treating it (is part of a, main arterial rond ns provided in a former resolution." Mr. Crabb's amendment was carried. ilr. F. T. Moore (Johnsonville) moved: "(1) That the Government be asked to legislate during tho next session of Parliament for the creation of on arterial reads board for the North Island of NewZealand. (2) That Mich board be financed by the ' issue of State legal tender notes, upon which 'no interest shall be charged, but which notes shall be redeemed on the completion of this pu'blic work at tho rate of 5 per cent, per annum. (3) That tho upkeep of these approved arterial roads shall he borne by the local body in which each length of road rests, after the expiry of one year from the date of laying by the arterial roads board." The remits were carried. A Molor Tax. Mr. L. A. Edwards moved: "That an annual tax be imposed on ail powerdriven road vehicles." Mr. W. Cotton moved an amendment that tho tax bo on all wheeled vehicles. Tho amendment was lost and the motion carried. Tho following supplementary resolutions upon tho motor tax were passed:— "That such tax be levied on horse-power and weigh combined"; and "That tho proceeds of such tax be U6ed for the purpose of providing funds for improvement of main arterial roads, as provided in three remits previously carried." Land Aggregation, The following remits sent forward by the Pongaroii Chamber and Hie Marton Borough Council respectively were adopted :- "That somo action be taken urging subdivision of all big estates, thus encouraging closer settlement; also that something be done in the matter of proventiugYland aggregation." "The closer settlement of rural districts is one of the most urgent needs of the present time. In some districts and counties there is a notable cutting up into smaller subdivisions of large estates, whilst iu other districts there seems to bo a tendency to buy out the smaller holdings and merge them into I larger areas,"

Mr. Hunt moved: "That in order to vigorously carry out a policy of closer settlement of'rural lands so vital to the best interests of the Dominion, the. Government bo urged' to establish in each province, standing advisory committees consisting of representatives of local bodies, farmers' unions, r.nd chambers of commerce, such committees to sUidv and report upon the various aspects of settlement of the country; that in order to ensure the success of such a policy training farms be established througnour. tnu country, where prospective settlers could obtain the necessary experience; that Crown lands be available only to applicants possessing such knowledge." The conference adopted the remit. Village Settlements, Mr. Hunt also moved: "That with a view of correcting the drift of the rural population into tile cities and boroughs and providing suitable dwellings for country workers, village 'settlements or. modem town-planning lines be established (1) by joint action of local bodies, (2) by the promotion of garden settlement companies on lines of English garden suburb associations; that tho Government be urged to import either from England or America as early as possible an experienced ' town-planner to direct the movement throughout the Dominion ; that tho State arrange to finance the town-planning scheme as is done in Britain."

Several speakers supported the motion. Mr. A. Harris (Waiiganui) said that the conference had just been dealing with the question of land aggregation, and had seen that ono of the causes of land aggregation was tho superior attraction of life in the town over lifo in tho country—an attraction that tended to deplete tho rural population. If Uie conference carried the molion, it would he urging the Government to spend money on making town lii'o more attractive still. The motion was carried on the voices' with an added clause, viz: "That the Government l>e urged to pass a townplanning Act."

Other Matters, Air. Crabb moved that the district of Ifawke's Bay should bo invited to attend and participate in all future conferences. The remit was adopted. ( Mr. C. E. Miiekay (Wanganui) moved: "That in the opinion of conference more vigorous action should bo taken to check the shifting sand along tho coast." The remit was adopted. Another Wangamu remit discussed was: "That in tho opinion of tho conference bodies contributing to the funds of hospital and charitable aid boards should have direct representation on those bodies." The remit was lost on a show of hands. The conference endorsed a remit urg* iug State control of all living forests ia the country, vigorous planting of selected Crown lands, and the praotical stoppage of the exportation of sawn timber from .\ew Zealand. The following resolution, moved by Mr. 'Byron Brown, was carried: "That the conference nffirms that it bo nn established principle that a betterment tax ho put on Ihe lands served by any railways or deviations of railways that may be built in tho future.'' Resolutions passed just before the end of the session were:— "That the Government b'e asked to report on the advisability of our exportable wool being scoured before exportation." "That adequate financial provision should be made by the Government to permit of a considerable extension of scientific research in the Dominion, and that the results be made available for the assistance of our industries." The conference rose shortly after 5 p.m., having completed its business.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THANKS FOR OUR VICTORY

Sir,—At last peace is sißned, and this war to all appearances is at an end. Liit ns throw our thoughts back unci think cf the time when' it looked as if it would never end, and when our Empire's soldiers were literally standing with their backs to the wall—half the time short of ammunition, enduring unspeakable hardships and pain. Now the other side of (he picture appears, and wo aro the winners. Who gave us the victory? God, of course. Now-, rany I suggest that every nion and woman who readß this should devote five minutes, on-Friday, say from 12 p.m. io live minutes pas!, whether they are in shop, house, street, tram, in fact anywhere, and thank God during that five minutes fervently in his heart for this victory, and all it'means? A pneoti of praise l'rum many souls will not be 'lost.—l am, etc., GRATEFUL.