King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1912. A METALLING POLICY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 465, 15 May 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1912. A METALLING POLICY.

Tho roading question is one which is vexing people in many countries, more particularly in those recently , settled lands in which the rapid spread; of sot Moment necessitated cheap and quick road construction. In New Zbbl:uni (li<- question is of supreme importance- ("nun tin* fact that the settlement of '.he land in inseparably associated widi (ho roading of the country. For n *>soiih which are too wellknown to require capitulation the prosperity of Hie country,both present and future, depends upon the settlement j of our lands, and the cultivation thereof to tho highcßt possible pitch of production. To narrow the subject to the local application it is therefore not Btrango that settlers in our district are endeavouring to improve on the primitive conditions which have existed in the King Country for a number of years. The meeting held at Pio Pio on Thursday last is a significant indication that our enterprising settlers are alive to the necessity of acquiring the best possible conditions for the carrying on of their business, and for the development of the country generally. The movement is commendable in every sense, and we trust the steps taken in furtherance uf the movement will be such that the whole of the people interested can heartily and unanimously support. It must be borne in mind that the policy pursued in the past of allowing the Government to devise and carry on the road work of the district was merely elementary. The history of other districts proclaims that as settlement increases the policy of Government control gives way to control by the people most interested. The settlers can be safely trusted to exercise their activities in the most beneficial manner, and the Governmnet can safely be trusted ; to assist the settlers on sound progres-' sive lines. Examples of the desire of i the Government to help thoße who wish to help themselves are to be found throughout the district in cbbbs where subsidies have been granted for metali ling loans, and it is beyond argument 1 that such assistance is of infinitely greater benefit to the settlers than the granting of yearly doles which are for the most part buried in the following winter's mud. To those acquainted with the district for any length of time the fact must be borne home with irrestible force that one of the . greatest drawbacks to the district is that reading could only be carried on slowly, and much money is annually wasted in reforming and repairing roads which have not been metalled. In addition the settlers have to pay exorbitant freights no their goods, i besides ;being penalised in numerous other ways with which our people are only too well acquainted. It IB gratifying to see that our settlers are realising that the time has arrived to supersede such a wasteful method by a comprehensive scheme which aims directly at permanency, and adopts he most direct route thereto. To the doubting spirits we would point out that any scheme worthy of adoption must necessarily have the deepeßt consideration, and that the interests . of settlers in every locality must be conserved. At the same time it must be recognised that no broad general schume that was ever conceived in the interests of a community operated on each individual in exact proportion in all aspects. The central principle affirmed by the Pio Pio meeting is undoubtedly sound. The best method of carrying out the scheme can only be arrived at by those interested conferring on sympathetic lines for the purpose of achieving something for the general good. No insuperable difficulties stand in the way, and to people animated by a desire for the progress of the district, and with minds clouded by no other issue, the production of a fair and equitable scheme is lut a matter of detail. Any resrion- . ibiliiy resting upon the Government i with respect to the main road need < roi unduly agitate the settlers' minds !orc; u: e (hem to delay. With the j matter placed fairly before the autho- ! rittii's the responsibility will be recognised, and the benefits to be derived from tho settlers joining force with (In- Government in a comprehensive scheme are so obvious that the authorities should welcome the movement. Tho matter of finance, as far a: -the Government is concerned, mßy prove a stumbling block for a time; n. t because of lack of sympathy of of i-mi-n cognition of the principle, but from a temporary lack of funds to devote to Hi" work. The chief object will be attained when the settlers unite to (iii--rusa the matter with open mini:,':, | 1lM1 (, „„ furthering an oquit- .".!'!'' .-Thome for tho good of the whole , ;ii: (net. Wo trußt this will be done • and have over confidence that the public spirit of settlers will be exercised in a manner befitting the importance of the question.