BACKBLOCKS ASSOCIATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 538, 1 February 1913, Page 5

BACKBLOCKS ASSOCIATION.

LOCAL BODIES IN CONFERENCE. MEETING AT OHURA. The conference of the Baukblocks Local Bodies Association was held at Ohura on Wednesday, delegates attending from ths counties of Ohura Messrs Sandison and Risk; Whanga- • momona-Messrs Mered.tn and Bacon Kaitieke —Mr Ford; Clifton Mr Kennington; and Waitomo - Messrs Sc oies and Mora; and the boroughs of Taumarunui Messrs Ryan and Slattery; and Te Kuiti —Major Lusk being present. Mr P. Mora, 4ary, and Mr A. F. Howartb, solicitor to the association, were also in attendHDC6« Mr A. Scholes, president, in opening the conference, extended a hearty welcome to all those who attended. Referring to the business of the conference he said he thought all remits should be on broad lines, as indicating -principles which can be supported Unanimously. Concerning the great Question of roads they were all aware that some alteration was desirable. It must have appealed to all settlers that finality should be reached in the matter of roading. The patchwork policy which allowed the Government and native land to be roaded indiscriminately was capable .of immense improvement, and they were meeting to suggest improvements. Speaking on the remits Major Lusk referred to the difficulty of roading in districts where native lands _e x " isted, and pointed out that the idea was to make provision for adequate roading by making the native land bear the cost of at least portion of the roading. He advocated unity and pointed out the necessity of co-opera-tion in order to achieve any good. He held the roading question ■ was a national one. The settlers had contributed largely to in which they were not directly interested, and there was a balance in their favour. That balance he claimed should be expended in roads. He moved the adoption of the following remit:—"That it be a racommenda tion to the Government that instructions be given to all judges of the Native Land Court that prior to the partition of native blocks a rough survey of the roads required therein be made, and that the cost of survey and decripfion- of boundaries of the subdivison be a charge on the land and paid surveyor on completion of tne work." Mr C. J. Ryan, Taumarunui, said the Europeans were suffering in consequence of the unsatisfactory position of native lands in regard to settlement. He pointed out that in the case of Crown lands when sold or leased portion of the revenue was devoted in the form of thirds to roading Similar regulations should exist in respect to native lands. He supported the remit. Mr Slattery said he thought the present system should be dene away with and the native land should be administered by the Crown Land Board. He would support the remit, however as tending to improve present condi tions.

The motion was carried. TAUMARUNUI REMITS

Remit from the Taumarunui Bor ough concerning the erection of a bridge over the Wanganui river and the expenditure of the timber royalties collected in the distirct were introduced by Mr Ryan. He pointed out the importance of the bridge as • being an important link in the main connection between Wellington and Auckland. The only bridge they had at present was the railway bridge. Mr Ford, Kaitieke, in supporting the remit, said the various local bodies using the bridge had to contribute towards the upkeep of the prev sent bridge. The bridge would probably be closed tu traffic shortly. There was a remit to the effect that the principle of the Government constructing a main road through each county should be affirmed and if that \?as carried it would include the remit concerning the bridge. The conference agreed. TIMBER ROYALTIES.

Concerning the remit as to the expenditure of timber royalties, Mr Slattery pointed out that thee was no definite iniormation as to how these royalties were utilised. He urged the adoption of the remit. Mr Ford, KaitieKe, said the question was of great importance to the whole district between Taumarunui aod Ohakune. He understood the timber royalties of the Waimarino forest had been set aside to go towards meeting the expendtiure on the Main Trunk line. This, he considered, was not fair. The roads of the local bodies had to suffer from the timber traffic, and got nothing to assis them. The railway was a national work, and the local bodies should not be penalised in the matter. He urged that the conference recommend a revision of the timber royalty question be made with a view to doing iustice to the local bodies. Mr Ryan and Maor Lusk supported the remit. ~ Wbangamomona, saia one sweeping remit should including the rating, reading, and timber royalty on native lands being placed on the same footing as Crown lands. _ Mr Ryan asked permission to add to the remit that the secretary to the association obtain information concKntog the royalties, togethe.; with a return of the amounts received by th Thiß was agreed to and adopted. TS. following remit by tb. TaumLnm Borough Oooncil.was ,ntroduced by Mr Ryan:- That ini the interest pf the native owners and the lessees in native townships, where the \ a i« not individualised, the Government shall acquire the ireebold thereJ the miti.es being willing to sell, with . view to the Mnic.pahsation «"« hj« the association be forwarded to each member of Parliament

interested and that a deputation of the association consult with the mem--bers in approaching the Government. It was decided to hoid the next con ference at Taumarunui, and the matter of fixing the date was left in the hands of the president and Major Lusk. The remit was adopted.