THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1907. HURRIED SETTLEMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 48, 20 September 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1907. HURRIED SETTLEMENT.

There comes a time in the history of every country, however large or however rich in natural resources, when the bulk of the production must emanate from the soil. This has been the case all down the ages, and is likely to be so in a more marked degree in succeeding ages. The spread of education and the natural competition of countries render it imperative that each shall keep abreast of the other in industries and the application of the most modern and payable methods' of manufacture. Hence any advantage which one country has over its neighbour must arise from an extra soil fertility, or a greater natural supply of raw material for its industries. Climate, of course, is an important factor, but most countries have a widely varying supply of Nature's gifts in this respect. In New Zealand up to the present the prosperity of the country has been greatly assisted by the bounteous supply of natural products bestowed by Nature in one of her prodigal moods. Gold, timber, gum, thermal wonders, scenery—the latter one of the most valuable gifts and one which is increasing in value—are some of the chief resources which have been responsible for the prosperity hitherto. The increase of population due to prosperity • has rendered it neces-

sary for a large portion of the population to turn its attention to the land, J and the real and permanent wealth- j producing asset of the country has of late years increased largely in value as the demand grew, and the available area became less. Compared with the whole, but little available virgin land remains for settlement, and of late years the demand has kept increasing. To this reason may be ascribed the condition of many portions of the King Country to-day. During recent years the advance of the dairying industry and the general prosperity of the various branches of farming, rendered a progressive land settlement policy imperative, and the Government have been induced to open lands in obedience to the clamourings or the public, which, in the first instance, should have decently roaded in order to give settlers reasonable opportunity of making a fair living off their sections after the initial pioneering work had been accomplished. Unfortunately, the immense amount of money necessary to do this could not be provided. The country itself is merely in the firststage of development and great expenditures are necessary in other channels than road making, in order to keep abreast of competitors in all directions, and develop the Dominion on broad lines. Thus were created, in various localities, conditions which should never have been allowed to come into existence. There arc, of course, other contributing causes, but the aforementioned will suffice to point the moral. Moreover, had a North Island Ministry held the reins of Government, the conditions would probably have been less severe, the greater local knowledge of those in authority doubtless tending to a greater consideration of the subject. However, the position is plainly apparent, and the settlers may be readily and freely forgiven for making an outcry against the system which condemns :thcm to such an existence. Unfortunately, at times they are driven into error, and attribute the cause of their martyrdom to the wrong quarter. This is hardly to be wondered at, considering everything, but still it seems a pity the settler should weaken his case instead of strengthening it, when the real and vital cause is so plainly apparent in the ridiculous and unbusinesslike method adopted by a Southern administration for dealing with Native lands.