King Country Chronicle Wednesday, March 27th, 1912. THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 451, 27 March 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, March 27th, 1912. THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS.

If anything were required to emphasise the necessity for the vigorous prosecution of the road works in the district, the letter by "Backblocker," appearing in another column of this issue should prove an added incentive to those responsible for the carrying on of the work. Turn which way he will, on every side the settler is met with the same time-worn difficulty. In his public activities; in bis private business undertakings; and in his sccial and domestic life, he is trammelled and cramped by the lack of decent roads. In towns and older settled districts, where the burdens of public requirements are shared by large numbers, the necessary facilities for the smooth and easy working of th« business and social system of modern life come almost automatically, and the burdens are lightly carried. As a consequence thought and action are stimulated, and the rising generation —guider3 of the country's destiny in years to come —are early fitted to take their places in life. This is as it should be, and it is to be devoutly hoped the facilities for the education and progress of our youth will continue to be provided. Furthermore, it is to be even more devoutly hoped that the principle of extending equal facilities to the backblockers will receive wider recognition, and that the requirements of the few will be sedulously attended to. The King Country, as it exists to-day, is a district of unlimited potentialities, and with prospects out rivalling any other district in the Dominion. Here and there settlement has proceeded in patches, and the surface of the ground has been scratched in places. Compared with what there is to do the amount accomplished is infinitesimal, and the output from the district already is highly creditable, and is a sufficient indication of the enormous wealth to be won from the soil. That industries will be established in our midst eventually cannot be doubted, as in the limestone and coal deposits yet unexploited lie valuable assets, but undoubtedly the district is destined to'be one of broad spaces given over to agricultural and pastoral life. With the recognition of this fact must come the recognition of the further fact that the full and proper development of the district cannot bs carried out on progressive lines without the best and most up-to-date system of roading. Coincident with the spread of settlement in the district comes the need for equipping the growing generation with the best knowledge to carry on the work of developing the district's resources. For such purpose in other localities agricultural schools and colleges have been established, and the time is now approaching when similar facilities will be urgently required locally. The present movement at Te Kuiti for Technical and High Schools is but the forerunner of a demand which must extend. Naturally such schools must be established only in the most favourably situated centres, ami ilia! She means of access thereto shall ho of the best possible description is imperatively necessary. The urgency of the roading question is borne, home to us in connection with every movement in the district, and this fact ehould inspire our people to herculean efforts to overcome the didieuhy. The sooner we realise that the roading of the ciistirct is only lierum the better it will be for all. The met; l .!!ins: of a few miles of different roads is satisfactory as far j

as it goes, but the settler on a metalled road is vitally affected by the existence of many miles of unmetalled road, and the non-existence of roads where roads ought to exißt. It is therefore the obvious duty of all to co-operate and further the development of the district, the initial and most important ptep towards which is undoubtedly roads.