CORRESPONDENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 79, 24 April 1908, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

__ ❖ - TO THE EDi'TOK. S]R, read with interest your leader on " Reading the Backblccks" in a previous issue, also a letter signed "J.H.T." on the same subject, I would beg a word in reply. I would remind the latter person, whoever he may be, that the same body of settlers who are working in connection with the Railway Deviation are equally interested in Road construction, that being one of the planks in their platform, and we hail with delight the whole-hearted enthusiasm "J.H.T." if he will co-operate with us in this important matter, which at the present moment is sharing out attention. Unforti/nately ion this as on other questions the people will not " pull and shout " together. Twelve months ago we tried to point out to the settlers that a levy of £5 per household, together with a £ for £ subsidy, would metal the first sixteen miles which carried the traffic of the whole district. This, we insisted, would be a capital investment for the settler who could ill afford to pay high freights on the bare necessaries of life. But the settlers could not see eye to eye and many had good sound arguments on their side, I admit. Some contended it was a Colonial work and should be carried out by the Government without delay. Others alleged their sections had been loaded by the Crown for this purpose and they had a right to demand the same. In short we have lost thousands of pounds and are now in a worse position than before. In order to prove our contention, we will quote figures. During this week we obtained definite information as to the amount of goods carried over that sixteen miles of iwad, and what do we find? Since January Ist, up to. April 14th, 1,800 tons of merchandise was carried over this road at a total cost af £4,800 to the settlers. This, bear in mind, is what it has cost the settlers for three months only. Bad and excessive freights are just contfnencing, and if this is the starting condition, what will the end be ? Had the road been metalled as far as Pio Pio, there would have been a clear profit to the settlers Of £2,400 on this first quarter of the year. Apart from this, there would have been a large saving in wear and tear, loss of time, and inconvenience in travelling over the present quagmire. We do not want faultfinders of the " Sounding Brass and Tinkling Cymbal" type, but men who will work harmoniously for the good of their fellows to improve the present conditions of life. Many a poor mother or child has to be deprived of certain requirements owing to the cost of cartage to their homes. Citizens of Te Kuiti! Arouse to the Macedonian cry of your backblocks neighbours : " Come over and help us."—l am, etc., G. ELLIOTT.