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Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1929, Page 4

Roading the far south is certainly a considerable problem, but on that account the duty should not he shirked. It is pleasing, ar least, to see the local settlers moving in the matter, and it is at least satisfactory to find the local body offering some help by appointing a councillor to proceed to Wellington with the settlers’ deputation to wait on the Government next month. As we pointed out lately, the far south is very poorly roaded, and until the country is more opened up, development will be slow. That has been the experience generally with settlement. It is the opposite to mining with which perhaps Westland is more j familiar. A gold rush acts like magic in opening up territory, but settlement progresses very slowly indeed, and good roadk||| is a first cssontal to ma-t-ora 1 prnfifcs a correspondent this ; week off teed some objection to the 1 roading of Jackson Hay district, hut not really on the merits of the ease. \Tho opposition seemed rather to he personal—too much land held hy too j few people. Those boldines, however, j are largely runs, and could easily he j converted into ordinary sections for , regular occupation, if there were the demand for‘the land. Runs are held under a short tenure, and small rent. . and improvements are almost neo-li- ' gihle. But if the same land were cut up and occupied as leaseholds under

decent tenures, then improvements would proceed apace. But at present these large run holdings are isolated and may be used economically only for stock raising purposes. And when ihe stock is reared, we have to note how far tlie “fats” are from a market. To drive the “fats” to a market means that they arrive at their destination as “stores!” Shipping cattle is now a very rare possibility, and the upshot is a restricted and difficult means of livelihood. The correspondent referted to said “no district can thrive without settlers,” and that is just the position, the settlers must be encouraged to go in and take up the land, whicii it is admitted is good land suitable for close settlement. A new land policy is not necessary, the policy is available now to settle South Westland. What is required are good roads in the far south to a port whence stock and produce can be exported un-, dor stable conditions, and markets reached with some assurance within a reasonable time. As to the cost of the road, let us remember that in other parts of New Zealand very costly roads to tourist resorts are being laid don, and not one settler will be assisted thereby. There is the bitumpn road to National Park—a holiday resort. The extensive roading proposals announced by Sir Joseph Ward to link Rotorua and Taupo in place of a railway! Why all this extravagance in expeomyiva roading, and the Crown lands of the far south left without roads at all? If the people do not press their claims they will remain without recognition, and the district will lanquish. There seems to be a special opportunity just now to press for the roading, and the people are wise to seek to help themselves with a personal deputation on the matter.