King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4, 1912 A ROADING POLICY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 523, 4 December 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4, 1912 A ROADING POLICY.

The forthcoming conference of the recently-formed Backblocks Local Bodies' Association should mark the beginning of a movement which is altogether necessary in the interests of land settlement in the Dominion. Roading and settlement go hand in hand, and upon the efficiency of the roading system depends entirely the measure of progress which ia possible to settlement. Hitherto in New Zealand this principle has not been sufficiently appreciated. The roading policy has been of a sketchy nature, and the requirements of the different districts where settlement is taking ni n ™ have beak too greatly dependent

is obvious that the lack of a complete and definite policy baa constituted a lamentable weakness. The inevitable hag happened,anil anomalies and inequities have been created which shuuld never have come into existence. The work which now confronts the new association is altogether worthy of the best efforts of the members. Apart from (ho many minor issues with which the associa tion will have to deal there is the task of impressing the Government with the fact that a broad comprehensive roading policy is absolutely essential to the progress of settlement in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. Tha respective responsibilities of the Government and the local bodies should be o.loarly defined in order that, the people entrusted with the administration of local affairs can work confidently on constitutional lines with a definite knowledge as to the extent of their responsibilities and powers. The trend of administration of late has clearly been in the direction of conferring increased responsibility on county councils in respect to such public works as roads and bridges,and the elimination o f the system of dua control. The inclination in this direc tion should undoubtedly be quickened, and the establishing of a definite system upon which to work would be a decidedly progressive step It is manifestly ridiculous that such an important national work as the roading of the great undeveloped area which still exists in the country should bo carried out in the happy-go-lucky method that has served hitherto. The cost to the country in consequence has been enormous, and the hardship inflicted on pioneer settlers has been great. It is safe to assert that had the reading question been accorded that degree of importance which it undoubtedly deserves very much better results could have been achieved. The various aspects of the question as applied to the different districts will doubtless be discussed by the association, and the recommendations made thereon shoild be of i'lfinite service to the Government in framing a suitable policy. In the ranks of the association are local bodies in various stages of progress, and representing districts in different stages of development. The majority of the counties are more or leas ail'ected by the existence of native lands within their boundaries, and the roading of these lands alone constitutes a problem which is calling aloud for solution. It is io be hoped the work of the Association will be undertaken with a realisation of the responsibilities of the occasion, and that tho efforts of the members will bo granted that: consideration by the Government which the occasion demands.