King Country Chronicle Saturday, April 27th, 1912. THE ROADING QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 460, 27 April 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, April 27th, 1912. THE ROADING QUESTION.

♦ That the. question of road making in bulking large in the affairs of countries infinitely older and more important (ban New Zealand is evidenced l) >■ recent, happenings. The Congress of the United St.al.os is actively dlsrthe mailing question at prei ini, ami ono of tho most prominent iVa! urcf. of t in- Canadian Government's pror.r.'iiniiir is a Kill dealing with the nat.iiT.al highways. In New Zealand t.hi reading problem is always with Di, its importance being accentuated !ty Ih' 1 remarkable expansion that is taliing place in various country district;-. Accustomed as we are to the acceptance by the State of responsibilities of all descriptions we have come to regard the providlhg of mentis of transit as the natural function of tho Government. The system hitherto pursued of loading land being opened for settlement with a few shillings per aero for roading purposes has been found to be quite inadequate to more than form tracks, without making provision for permanent work. This method inevitably decrees that the pioneers of settlement, the people who in all cases are most deserving of consideration mu9t undergo a great deal of hardship before it is possible to establish conditions suitable for the carrying on of the business of farming. The direct commercial loss is also a formidable item, and taken altogether the backblocker haß to pay heavily for his roads. The direct loss to the country is somewhat difficult to assess, but when it is considered that the progress and prosperity of large ami fertile districts is held back for years it will be readily seen that, reduced to figures, the loss would aggregate a very large amount. It appears strange that this phase of the question has never appealed to the authorities as a business proposition, or ifot has has never done Bo with sufficient, strength to make radical improvement in the method of opening new country for settlement. The settlement, methods of the Dominion are probably the most advanced and democratic that could be adopted, in one respect. Tho assistance offered j to now settlers is such that were roadI ing facilities provided the system j would make for tho most rapid returns I possible. The lamentable weakness. ; evidenced in the roadinc branch of ! the system however makes impossible the success of the general scheme,and merely results in profound disappointment to tho settlers and immense lobs to the State. That the country has prospered in tho lace of the manifest drawbacks is striking evidence of the resourcefulness and grit of the pioneers and the great possibilities of the land. Recognition of the immense importance of the roading problem by the Government is clearlv indicated by the manner in which subsidies have been granted for metalling projects i in recent, years, and it may be readily conceded that, little improvement could be made in that respect. A striking weaknos.-. however, still exists in the shape oi the initial work of format ion which frequently lags far behind the requirements. As this Work is supposed to be provided for when the land is being opened, no time should he lost in completing it, and enabling the so tilers to carry out the I met ailing which is the conquest of the mud is assured. This is a highly important feature, of infinitely greater importance than is apparently realised. We trust no eti'ort, wi ! bo spared in urging it upon the authorities.