THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1908. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 October 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1908. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

THIS year's Public Works Statement can undoubtedly take rank as the most important, as far as the King Country is concerned, that has yet been issued. In addition to the usual amount on the Estimates under the heading of roadsand bridges, there appears under the new backblocks heading a very large sum, which aggregates about £40,000 extra for our district. A highly important fact in connection with the votes is that though portion of the roads and bridges allocations will have already been spent, the new votes for back block roads will of course, be j available intact for expenditure. It was confidently expected that a considerable increase in the votes would be made in our district this year, and the result can hardly be disappointing to the majority. Still, there is such an enormous amount of development work to be accomplished that the cry for years to come must be for more. In the meantime it is to be devoutly hoped the department officials will have no difficulty in procuring the necessary labour to accomplish the work outlined before the end of March next. Under the present system the time allowed between the publication of the Estimates and the end of the financial year is so limited that in order to accomplish work of any magnitude the greatest activity is necessary. This aspect of the case evidently appeals strongly to Mr Jennings, who made a special point of enquiring as to whether the money was available for immediate expenditure, and a re-assuring reply from the Premier is a welcome indication of the state of the exchequer. In addition to the vote for and bridges the amounts public buildings reaclf"jrtl«ffderable figure. The necessary buildings at Te Kuiti all of which, save the Post Office, have been completed, are provided for, and the vote of £2500 for an accommodation house, at Waitomo Caves indicates that the Government is fully alive to the necessity of making provision for a very considerable tourist traffic. Perhaps the most striking announcement, and one for which most of the settlers have been anxiously, waiting is that in connection with the Stratford-Main Trunk Railway. Naturally, different opinions are held as to the alteration of the route, but in the interests of all the fact that the Government has made a definite choice of routes is cause for congratulation. Moreover, seeing that a sufficient vote has been made for the purpose of starting the line from the northern end, it is to be hoped no time will be [lost in deciding upon the starting point. Upon such a question there need be no discussion. Providing no insuperable engineering difficulties are in the way Te Kuiti .is the natural junction for the line and it is to be hoped every effort will be made to establish the connection at that centre. The initial step to that end is the suvreying of the route. With united action on the part of the settlers and town residents this can be accomplished/! and no time should be lost in making the necessary application to the authorities.

IN view of the approach of the general election it would be well for electors to lose no time in having their names placed on the roll. In a large and scattered district their is considerable difficulty in ascertaining any details regarding the roll and the fact that the registrar's office is situated at one end of the electorate does not tend to simplify the position. In these days there is unhappily a tendency on the part of electors to view the proceedure of electing a representative to Parliameent with apathy. This should not be the case in a young and rapidly developing constituency. All our work is ahead, and we have nothing to gain and much to lose by becoming apathetic and failing to take a keen interest in public matters, These remarks apply with equal force to the County Council elections, which are fast approaching. In the interests of progress it is vitally important to have thoroughly representative bodies, keenly alive to the necessities of the district, and alert to take advantage of every opportunity to advance. It behoves the settlers and town residents to have their names placed on the County rolls without loss of time. Where any doubt exists as the eligibility of an individual to vote at the County elections application should be at once made to the County Clerk, who is in a position to satisfy claimants in this respect.