THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1908. A LONG STANDING GRIEVANCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 77, 10 April 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1908. A LONG STANDING GRIEVANCE.

THE oft-reiterated cry of the settler for metal 011 our roads may by some be considered in danger of becoming monotonous, but to the settler who has to use our clay tracks, the monotony can appeal in quite a different manner, and if reiteration can add an extra yard of metal to our jriajn thoroughfares, or bring nearer ihc installing of metal crushing machines in the district, the settlers would cheerfully brave much graver charges than any likely to be levelled against them. The district lias now been open for settlement tor eight years, and rapid expansion has ensued under the greatest possible difficulties. Still, the roads are little better to-day than when settlement was begun. it is true that many new so-called roads have been made to open up fresh count rv a ml give t ; ) Cro:yn lands, but the fact lha! the main thoroughfares are still impassable in winter is a serious handicap to progress, and undoubtedly a standing reproach to the authorities. There can be no question as to the Government's responsibility in the matter of the main f ;prd" and the fact that promises have ween jav.sh.y Jis, ensed in connection' tnerbwiiiv lienors that the responsibly is generally recognised. As a common rule, fi}i |h;jt jju: settjepj ask is ih;ji |iu: lll.lin I'Ofills sj)o||!d in. 1)K, :1c j.a.ssable and permanent highways ; the local roads will be under- 1 taken by those directly concerned. There is little encouragement, however, for the settlers to expend money in metalling their

local roads when they are eonfronted with a main thoroughfare which is impassable for at least half the. year. The report of the Roads Department contains each vear a record of new roads opened and certain amounts expended mi niher roads, and the settlers demand lor a greater expenditure is usually met with the statement th:>t a very large amount has already been expended in the. district. It easy to generalise, and the expedient is a common political practice when straight.forward statements are not judicious. There is a strong feeling, however, that progress is not to be stilled and industry cramped in the district because of political shuliling and the desire to postpone the evil day of payment as long as possible. 1 here is no doubt (he Government undertook a tremendous contract in opening up the district lor settlement belore any roading was done. The settlement outran the roading inordinately, and it will take years of time and a great expenditure to adjust matters equitably. However, while recognising the position, it is hardly sound policy to make the settlers shoulder the whole burden. Our main roads should at least be metalled in order to give a reasonable chance to those who have braved the discomforts and dangers of pioneering. The Prime Minister's recent statement that a large amount was to be set aside annually for necessitous roads, may mean much or little to the district. Every effort, of course, should be made to have the Ohura, Kawa, Awakino, and Te Kuiti - Kawhia roads placed

upon the schedule. In addition, there is a promise ol a stone crushing plant for the district, and no opportunity should be lost of urging the installation of the plant a! the earliest possible moment. Our main roads are a disgrace to a civilised community. The cost to settlers in freight is enormous ; progress is retarded, and the returns from one of the Dominion's finest districts are reduced to a minimum, instead of being assisted to increase, by means of decent communication with railway centres and markets. Our settlers have every incentive to agitate, and it is to be hoped they will let no opportunity escape of demanding unamimously that which is their due: Metal on our main roads !

GRASS SEED. THE recent agitation with regard to the quality of the grass seed coming to Auckland from the South, is of distinct value to settlers, as it gives wide publicity to the methods of certain unscrupulous dealers, who arc ever on the alert to take advantage of the pressing needs of their fellow man. The settler in the backblocks is under a heavy handicap in having to order seed from a distance, and in any case has to rely upon the integrity of the merchant with whom his order is placed. Usually the settlers' confidence is not misplaced, and it is only in cases ol exceptional urgency like the present, when supplies have to be obtained at all costs, that the unscrupulous dealer lias the opportunity of putting into iorcc his- questionable practices. The fact that such methods are practiced is another argument in favour ol the farmer equipping himsell thoroughly tor his business. The present-day farmer requires (o be a wellinformed business man, in order to con due! his business on successful lines, and a knowledge of seed testing can be readily obtained. The Government requires a rigid inspection o| ail larni produce supplied in consumers, and the question of establishing a seed-testing branch, in connection with the Agricultural Department, ior the protection ol the farmer, might be worthy of considerat ion.