THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, APRIL 19TH, 1909 OUR ROADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 148, 19 April 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, APRIL 19TH, 1909 OUR ROADS.

THE winter siege of the settlers is about to commence under conditions which are little better than those of any previous year, notwithstanding the fact of the increased expedniture allocated last session by Parliament for roadiog the backblocks. It must be admitted, however, that a general allround improvement is noticeable in the various localities, and that preparations have been made for the carrying out of substantial works as soon as weather permits. In addition the recent Ministerial tour must have made perfectly plain to Mr Hogg the absolute necessity of carrying on a vigorous roading policy. Roads which have to bear the enormous traffic of such an extensive and rapidly growing district should certainly be placed in such a state that they will not become impassable with the visitation of a few days' rain. The subject is so familiar to the settlers that were it of less importance, repeated reference to it would be in danger of becoming monstrous. The interests of all, however, , are so vitally affected by the roads j question that there is every excuse for keeping it prominently blefore the public The fact that the roading of the land was allowed to lag behind the requirements of settlement has become so apparent that even the Government has realised the position. Still, there is a well defined limit to the powers of the authorities, whose actions are naturally controlled by the state of the exchequer. They are further influenced,as we are constantly reminded by the clamourings of various sections of the community, who are anxious to secure as much as possible of the public purse for their own particular localities. It is therefore, of the highest importance for our settlers,

to keep their requirements well before tbe notice of the authorities, and at all times and in all seasons to advance their claims. The special requirement of the district, and by far the most important, is roads —not clay tracks, but good and permanent highways—and no opportunity should be lost during the forthcoming session of Parliament, of proclaiming our needs in this direction. On general grounds there is ample justification for agitation, and in this particular district, in consequence of the existence of Native areas, the question assumes an aspect which provides more than ordinary reason for pressing our claims. With the various details and arguments connected with the position it is unnecessary at present to deal. Everyone in the district is detrimentally affected by the present state of affairs. In the interests of progress from both the parochial and national standpoint, it devolves upon the inhabitants to use every endeavour to effect the greatest possible improvement in the shortest possible time. The manifest course to adopt in order to attain such a desirable end is to agitate, and to agitate sedulously with the right people in the right place.