THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1907. ROADING THE BACKBLOCKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 14, 25 January 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1907. ROADING THE BACKBLOCKS.

After repeated applications, the Waitomo County Council has at last received a reply from the head of the Public Works Department, defining the position of the Council with re-' gard to the roads of the district. However unsatisfactory in some respects the reply may be, it at least has the merit of being direct. Briefly put, the Government throws the responsibility of making and maintaining all the roads within the County upon the Council. This proeeedure has the beauty of simplicity, and the Government is careful to refer to cer-

tain sections and subsections of the Public Works Act, which bear on the matter. It is pleasing news to hear that the Government is at present constructing road works within the County, and if funds are voted for such purpose from time to time by Parliament, the Government may continue to assist in such works. In that portion of the letter lies the kernel of the matter, and it is a striking example of the weakness of the departmental administration. The obvious deduction is that if the inhabitants of the County clamour sufficiently; if our Parliamentary representative is persistent enough ; if the Government has money enough and the thousand and one other " ifs " occur favourably, we may get money to carry on the system of patching. If the Government has not the money, then the onus is on the Council, and we have to look to ourselves for all things. It is to be deplored that the system of making grants for reading the backblocks should have grown up on the present lines. It is to be sincerely hoped thr.t the day is not far distant when an alteration will be loudly and generally demanded, and a statesmanlike and comprehensive scheme adopted for the ipurpose of reading all the back country of the colony. At present, according to the tone of the letter received by the Waitomo County Council, grants are made as favours, and the Minister for Public Works has to be approached with cap in hand and bended knee, in order for the supplicant to have a chance of getting even a vote on the Estimates. Such a system should be condemned by all, land though the present administration is only carrying on the system instituted by its predecessors, it is to be regretted that it sees fit to continue a deplorably weak, and effete institution. The demand for roads has been growing for years, and has now reached such proportions that if all the just and reasonable applications were granted a special loan would require to be raised, in order to satisfy them. And that is just what should be done. If a special loan was raised, and earmarked for the purpose of roading the backblocks and making them habitable for the struggling pioneers, who devote the best of their lives to the work of opening up the wilderness ; if the recommendations of the responsible officers of the department were heeded, and sufficient money spent in the right way, such as metalling the main roads; if the department did its work in a comprehensive and business - like manner without fear or favour, and gave straight and fair reasons for doing or leaving undone certain work, instead of quibbling ; then would its existence be justified and the Minister would earn and receive the hearty and lasting gratitude of not only the settlers, but the whole community. That such a course is desirable cannot for a moment be doubted, and it is only a matter of detail to devise means to provide interest and sinking fund out of the lands affected by the works. Money can be found in plenty for providing railways and railway stations ; for the erection of costly public buildings ; and for exhibitions to advertise the colony. What better advertisement could the icolony have than the increased productiveness which would "follow good roading? The settler is willing to pay for the roads ; he does not want them as favours. All he expects is to have a sound business-like scheme, and a certainty of getting the right sort of roads, and he will not be found wanting in providing his share towards the common good. It has often been stated that the Government is willing to assist largely when the settlers show a disposition to do something themselves, and in a young country the Government might reasonably be expected to take part of the burden of initiating means. It would be a statesmanlike proceeding on the part of the Government to outline a broad scheme to meet the present trying situation, and invite the co-opera-tion of the settlers in carrying it into effect, instead of thrusting the burden on to the shoulders of the people, and employing irritating technicalities to evade their own responsibilities in the matter. The Ministry has found a champion to tackle the land question, for good or evil. A champion of the roads question would meet with a much greater support. So far as the King Country is concerned, any system is better than the present, and the opportunity only awaits the man.

OHURA RAILWAY.

During the visit of the Hon. HallJones to Taumarunui, the Minister was interviewed by Mr C. J. Ryan with regard to starting the OngarueStratford railway from the Ongarue end, thus making the line a benefit to the settlers of Ohura, who are in a very bad position owing to the state of the roads in winter. Mr Ryan pointed out the fact that it was almost an impossibility to obtain metal for the roads until the line was through, and its connection with the Main Trunk line meant prosperity to the district. The Minister, in reply, stated that this and other similar lines would be vigorously gone on with when the Main Trunk line was nearing completion. In this connection it should be kept prominently in mind that Ministers are prone to speak hopefully in generalities, and the only way of accomplishing the desired end is to keep the matter moving, and urge it on every possible occasion. The Minister coupled this line with

other similar lines, but it may safely be questioned if there is one other line inthewhole colony so urgently needed, as the connection between Ohura Valley and the Main Trunk railway. The Ohura is practically without metal of any description, and until the line is through it will be impossible to improve the roads so as to enable the settlers to start creameries. The roads in winter are bad beyond description, and many of the settlers are in sore straits. It is useless crying out for metal on these roads, 'as suitable material could not be obtained except at enormous cost. The only alleviation the settlers can look for must come by means of the railway and the sooner that comes, the sooner will the Ohura be a veritable garden of prosperity. It is to be sincerely hoped that the settlers will combine, and leave no stone unturned to have their just demands acceded to. The matter to them is a vital one and Mr Ryan is deserving of the gratitude of his neighbours for taking advantage of the opportunity of placing it before the Minister. With hearty co-operation much may be accomplished, and the settlers supported by the member for the district, should take every opportunity of keeping this most important work in the forefront, among matters urgently demanding attention.