BACKBLOCKS ASSOCIATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 522, 30 November 1912, Page 5

BACKBLOCKS ASSOCIATION.

THE FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE. REMITS FOR DISCUSSION. The forthcoming conference of the Backblocks Local Bodies Association, is to be held in January, which was discussed by the Waitomo County C ouncil on Wednesday night, and various matters of importance to the district were referred to by the chairman. The roading of native lands (said Mr Scholes) was undoubtedly the most important question to settlers. A great deal of settlement had taken place on these lands, and good work was being done. If the lands were roaded and proper facilities provided progress would be quickened immensely. It was little use stating an evil without suggesting a remedy. It appeared to him that some form of loading the land which is to benefit by the roading was the only way. He considered the Government should also subsidise the amount raised by loading to a reasonable extent. The carrying out of the work could safely be left to the local bodies interested, but it was no use doing anything unless it was on a comprehensive scale, and included a thorough system of roading for the whole district. It was ridiculous to go muddling along as at present. They had a concrete instance of the working of the principle of the Government only making roads to Crown lands in the case of Te Ahuroa road. The Government had made a substantial grant for the road as it led to Crown land, but before it reached the Government land it passed through about ten miles of native land. It was the same thing throughout the district. To attempt to dissasociate the Jroading of Crown and native lands in the district was absurd, and the sooner this was recognised the better. Until recently they had a very big grievance to air in tho shape of the rating of native l«nds. He was glad to say the experience of Waitomo County was that the natives were just as anxious to pay their rates as the Europeans. There were one or two points which Bhould be improved. The natives were frequently on the rate bonk as nominated owners of a block after the block had been partitioned, and the individual interests defined. All partitions should be sent through to the Valuation Department by the Native Land Court. In many in stances the Maoris were only too pleased to have the position assured and the rates were coming in very satiafactorily. A number of remits have been received for considerantion at the conference, which should be of considerable importance to backblock districts generally.