THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1908. KING COUNTRY TOWNSHIPS

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 84, 29 May 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1908. KING COUNTRY TOWNSHIPS

THE position of townships in the King Country is likely to receive some attention during the coming parliamentary session, and it is to be hoped a strong unanimous effort will be made to have matters placed on a more satisfactory basis than exists at present. In citing the case of Te Kuiti, we are dealing with every township of importance, save those of Ohura, in the district, and com-mon-sense, combined with mutual interest, decrees that any effort to improve existing conditions shall be a matter of co-operation between the different centres. When the progress of the country rendered it necessary that certain areas should be set apart for township purposes the population of the district was sparse. This naturally meant scanty representation in Parliament, and small attention was paid to the township scheme. Added to these drawbacks was the fact that the Native Land question was left severely alone on all possible occasions by both private members and the Ministry. Thus the Native Minister, or whoever had charge of the scheme, was left untrammelled to work his own sweet will in connection with one of the most important features of the richest undeveloped district of the Dominion. Serious mistakes were to be expected as the natural result of such a proceeding, and the mistakes just as naturally occurred. The townships were laid off without any provision being made for public progress. At Te Kuiti the only reserve is that of two or three acres for a hospital. Streets which traverse swamps and climb steep hills were laid off without providing for draining or formation of any description, besides which there are other necessary works which presumably carry a liability with them. The tenure is for a term of twenty-one years,

with revaluation at the end of that period. Taking the history of other towns much less favourably situated than the King Country centres, it is reasonable to suppose that very great progress wiil be made in these centres within the next few years. With the increase of population will come the manifold requirements of modern civilization, and the lessees of town sections will require to dip deep into then" pockets lo meet the increased taxation necessary to provide for progress. At the end ol the twenty-one years the properties will be revalued on the improvements made by the lessees, both individually, and as a community, who will continue to pay rates for further improvements, which will create a still higher valuation as time goes on. Such a scheme is obviously wrong in principle, and is a direct encouragement for the lessees to do as little as possible in the way of improvements. In order to approach any degree of equity the onus of a percentage of the improvements should certainly be borne by the lessor. This principle has been affirmed by the Government, and a striking case is in evidence at Te Kuiti. Within a stone-throw of the township a block of freehold land is held by a private individual. This land is to be subdivided into residential sections, and thrown open for sale. Before the sections can be dealt with, roads have not only to be'surveyed, but also formed to a certain grade and metalled. Comparisons may be odious, but they are highly useful in stating a case. However, no comparison is required to indicate that it is high time serious attention was given to the anomaly at present existing. Another grave aspect of the case is the position with regard to loans from the Government for town improvements. The TejKniti loan proposal h;Ps bcfifvarried, and the treatment of the application by the Government will be awaited with interest. The loan applied for is for a term ot thirty-two years, and, as the tenure of the leases is for considerably less than that period, there is a problem to be worked out in connection with the liability. In view of the whole circumstances it has been decided to apply for a substantial subsidy to the loan. The Minister for Lands, when at Te Kuiti, in touching on the question of a subsidy, pointer! out that the Government by granting a subsidy was merely assisting to increase the value ol the property for the benefit of the owners who contributed nothing. The soundness of the contention is obvious and, as we have pointed out, it is equally applicable to the lessees in the matter ol taxation. Unfortunately, the lessees m their desire to live m decency and with an average degree of comiort, are forced to pay highly tor the common privilege. Another view is that the situation having been created by the Government, it is the pressing duty ot those responsible to do all in their power to remedy it. Moreover, it is time the remedy was applied, and it is to be devoutly hoped every individual in the district will assist in pointing the path of duty to those on whom the responsibility lies.