THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1908. PUBLIC PROGRESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 74, 20 March 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1908. PUBLIC PROGRESS.

THE new roll for To Kuiti having come to hand from the Valuation Department, the necessary steps are being taken to complete arrangements for applying for a loan for the purpose of forming and opening the streets of the town for traffic. ft is to be regretted that owing to the lethargy of the (iovepinumt officials an up-10-rdate roll and valuation was not available from the outset, but now that everything is in order in this respect, it is to be hoped no time will be lost in pushing such an important matter vigorously ahead. On all hands are to be discerned signs of progicss in the town, and it requires but .little intuition to know that unless ioca/ affairs are to develop into ?,. staie ot ho^e t ! ess muddle. active steps will have 10 \** tci.;»'n by the residents. No argument is required to display the lact th ti i ne.j.'pssary .public work can onjy |\e bv .means oJ Joans, an,c} the to raise £ mm )§ f?ut' the initial

step in the march of public progress. It is therefore of supreme importance thai active interest should be taken in the movement by all, and no effort should lie spared in placing the matter lairly before the public. The last valuation by the Government ha:-. been the subject o! considerable criticism by those affecied, and it is generally recognised that a new and general valuation is necessary in order to place matters on an equitable footing. However, while admitting the necessity of a new valuation at the earliest possible date, we would point out that, as far as the loan proposal is concerned, the re-valuation is immaterial. Providing the loan proposal is carried and the money obtained, the expenses in connection with raising the loan, together with the first year's interest and sinking fund, can be paid out of the loan. The Valuation Department has undertaken to make a new valuation of the town next year, consequently before the special rate for the loan will be clue, the valuation difficulty will have been overcome, and an equitable basis established for striking the specinl rate. Events move quickly in a growing place, and the value of keeping abreast of the times in public matters is fully as important as in private business. Moreover, private business is immensely affected by public progress, and in the interests of the whole community public progress is undoubtedly Te Kuiti's most urgent requirement.

THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT. IT is to be regretted that the Prime Minister has found it impossible to pay a visit to the King Country during his present tour of the province, and the disappointment will be widespread. The announcement that he hopes to make arrangements to come a little later o» is not sufficiently definite to base any strong hopes upon, particularly as the winter is approaching, and with it the last session of the present Parliament. The Rohe Potae, which is admittedly one of the most promising and richly endowed pastoral districts of the Dominion, is suffering from many disadvantages, not the least of which is the ignorance of the Ministry of its potentialities and requirements. It was fondly hoped the members of the present administration would at least endervour to acquire a more intimate knowledge of our district, and considering that progress can only be made by the active co-operation of the legislature, residents may be pardoned for feeling the disappointment keenly. However, it behoves the settlers generally not to allow a possible opportunity to pass, and it is to be hoped the strongest possible efforts will be made to turn the Prime Minister's half promise to a definite end. The exigencies of office make heavy demands upon the leader of the Government, but all things considered one of the most pressing duties of a leader is to become personally acquainted with the conditions obtaining in the most promising districts under his jurisdiction.