THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1908. THE TOWNSHIP QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 89, 3 July 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1908. THE TOWNSHIP QUESTION.

THE opening of the present session of Parliament was noteworthy to the King Country, inasmuch as the time-honoured Governor's speech contained a direct reference to the position of the township conditions in the district. The matter was brought prominently before the Premier recently by residents of Te Kuiti, Otorohanga and Taumarunui. and a promise was given that steps would be taken this session to improve existing conditions. That Sir Joseph Ward was impressed with the necessity for action we have proof in the reference made to the subject in the outline of the programme of the Cabinet. Recognition of our disabilities by trTe "authorities is a source of gratification, especially when such recognition carries with it a specific undertaking to remedy matters. We have on more than one occasion advocated the desirability of a conference between representatives of the townships affected, and would again point out the advantage of such a course. The position of one is the position of all. and it is of the highest importance that those most intimately affected by action in the matter should have a hand in shaping the course of the proposed improvement. It should be an easy matter to arrange for a certain. number of delegates to meet at the most convenient centre and draw up a schedule of suggestions or recommendations to submit to the authorities. That such recommendations would carry weight is certain, providing they were based upon a broad conception and bore the stamp of equity. Greater weight would probably be attached to the result of s-Hich a conference if the Native owners were represented thereat, and providing the suggestion to confer is carried out the mailer of Native representation should not be lost sight of. Moreover, if a meeting is to be arranged -and we would strongly urge thai it should be time is an important factor in the contracl. The session has already begun, and in order to secure the attention of Parliament the recommendations from the residents should be remitted at the earliest possible opportunity. Much could be written in support of the suggestion, but argument is superfluous where the advantages are so obvious. Every individual in each township is directly effected and if mutual interest does not provide the necessary incentive to concerted action, argument and exhortation alike will be futile.

ROADS V. RAILWAY. AT the recent banquet to Mr Massey at Te Kuiti, Mr N. I. Hunt, in speaking of the requirements of the district, strongly advocated a roading policy in preference to all others, and declared that a network of good metalled roads throughout the district would lie more beneficial and make for more rapid progress than railways. That the argument is sound is indisputable, more especially when it is linked with the fact that, in a year or two there will be ample room for the establishment of dairy factories and creameries throughout the district. Mr Hunt, as one of the earliest settlers, is well acquainted with the country, and his judgment on farming matters is worthy of all respect. His emphatic opinion as to the suitability of the country for dairying, and the necessity of good roads to make the industry possible, is held in a like manner by many others. Many of our settlers find it extremely difficult to start on a section and work it up to paying point. The capital required for the purpose is considerable, and the period of waiting for profitable returns from stock raising is a trying one. With the establishment of the dairying industry throughout the district settlers would be assured of an earlier and more permanent return, and with the certainty of a given steady income, would find it a

much easier matter to go on ' im ~ proving their holdings. Considered from all sides the benefits are apparent. Greater and earlier returns would be made from tin 1 sections, and the settler could carry out a much forger proportion of improvements Pom his income, instead ot seek no.:, tlie assistance (if the ( f i\a i nmeni or financial insulations. Granted that railways arc beneficial, and in many cases necessary to prosperity, roads arc undoubtedly the first and most essentia! requirement after die coinnh tiou of a main railway to connect with the central markets or seaports.. The King Country, with its i.apidly growing population and expanding settlement, is in dire need of a good system oi roads. Ihe fact. that, tl'ie main thorough fares, which have to carry enormous traffic, are still devoid oi meia! is a disgrace to those responsible, J and it is to he hoped a much more active policy will he pursued in future than lias hitherto been the ciise. In addition, it devolves upon the settlers in the various localities to take steps to make the local roads oi nature to suit all the requirements oi progress, and by uniting iov a common object, they will assuredly share in a common prosperity.

I KING COUNTRY POLITICS. 1 i THE successive visits of the Pre- | mier and the Leader of the Opi position to the King Country have j been the means of bringing poli- : ties prominently before the people ! and each of the party leaders '. was listened to with appreciation. \ The visits were ail the more wcl- ! come from the fact thai there is a ! widespread opinion that after ; many years of cairn ami assured j peace in the political arena there ! is at last the prospect of eruption. ! more or less serious, in tin- ranks I of the party which has guided j the destinies of the Dominion for j years past. Sir Joseph Who d i hinted at the socialistic indu- ! once : Mr. Massey went imiher, ; and spoke plainly as to the aims j and objects of the exin mists, and ; ;is to the possibility of success ; for the extreme oai'iv. At the

present i imv• it is diffieult to lorecast anything in connection with 1 lie IU'XI yCHCiai > 'led')())1, bill judyiny from present appearances there i:'- little to apprehend in iiie way of revolutionary ohariye. A prosperous country rarely adopts extreme measures in politics, and I lie so-eaJ'!ed socialistic influence is not invested with sufficient power to make itself seriously i'elt in New Zealand. However, as rcyards die Kiny Country, the rival leaders were welcomed by ail irrespective of party feeliny. Onr district is as yet too yotmy, and rec.uires too much in (lie way oi' intern.d development, to render it expedient to devidc on a question oi party politics, which may have no hearing on the welfare onr district. Above all thinys a new and sparse!)' populated district requires unanimity oi aim. and a hearty co-operation in all projects (or the common yood. Political differences usuaiiy start with bein.tr differences c'< opinion or sympathy rcyardiny ih.e aims oi' a certain party oi politicians : ultimately they become, in many instances, broad yulls across which ii ; s impossible to stretch the hand oi' fellowship, ami effectually bar the waxy to eo- opi ratiipr for objects of inhniieiy yrenter and more immediate value. In New Zealand the yame of politics, as played in recent years, has been without interest to unbiassed onlookers, because oi the overwhelming majority hold by the party in power. The adherents of the minority have frequently proclaimed that the coach oi state was boiny driven ov< r a precipice, yet the catasiiooiu seems as far off as ever. !In supporters oi' the majority ha\e been just as fervid in their opinion that the country would be irretrievably lost were the opposition to obtain the nuns oi (lovernment. On the top oi' ail this comes the persistent rumour of a possible, coalition hctv.acn these old enemies to frustrate the aims of an embryo socialistic party. Possibly there a. re but sliyhi grounds for the .rumour ; sidi. the fact that a larye number of peopu consider such a step possible, u a clear indication thai little tear is felt of the Hominum be in;.: driven to perdition by either party. Hitherto the dispart has been neylectcd politically._ and Mr Jenninys has practically fouyhi a lone hand battle under adverse conditions. Mr Massey protested ayainsl the Covet ument beiny constituted a I.aryc board of works, thouyh he admitted that he cinieavouu d to obtain from the v'.ovci .mien! as mucli as he could. The Kiny Country requires more than any other district in the 1 dominion. and the iirst duty o\' the sett lei a is to yet what they can. Violent party politics will assist tin m towards that c\m\. 'Cuaniuuiy is the great essential, and by eooperating on a.l! questions sheeting the district, the ic.-idcuis ai e doing more lo assist m t lie ;a y ■■ gross and development oi the country, than by sfirrinyup party strife, especially when tin- aims of the rival parties are so closely allied, as to warrant the persistent suggestion of coalition.