King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, FEB. 21, 1913 THE ROADING QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 544, 22 February 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, FEB. 21, 1913 THE ROADING QUESTION.

The constantly recurring applications which come before the County Council in respect to roadiug matters generally indicate strongly the necessity for the establishment of a much more definite system in respect to roading than at present exists. The deputation from Waitomo which waited on the council on Monday evening is one of the many instances which serve to show the necessity of placing the matter in such a position that settlers will understand where the responsibility for road construction actually rests. The Mangapohue road is still construction by the Government, and annual grants are placed on the Estimates for proceeding with the work on this important

•thoroughfare. Unfortunately the work proceeds so slowly that by the time the formation is completed much of the work already accomplished has fallen into disrepair. The result ia that if settlers desire to go in for a metalling scheme a considerable amount of the money which should be utilised to provide metal has to be devoted to placing the roaa in a fit state to receive the metal. In addition, the fact that formation work is delayed for several seasons renders it impossible for settlers to go in for a metalling scheme by way of ppecial loan. It is impossible to include settlers who are without a formed road in a scheme for metalling that portion of the road which has already besn formed, and the delay thu3 incurred means a greatly increased expenditure in maintaining formation work. During the course of the Hon. Mr Fraser's visit to Te Kuiti last year the Minister referred particularly to the delay which took place between formation and metalling as one of the chief factors in the heavy cost of roading. There are, of course, other contributing causes which, taken together, constitute a strong argument for the. adoption of a more definite policy. The recommendations made at the recent conference of backblock local bodies indicate that the local authorities fully recognise the necessity for action in the matter, and it is to be hoped when the appointed delegates approach the Government uii the subject, the matter will be fully represented and consid3red with a view to improvement.