King Country Chronicle Wednesday, April 2nd, 1913 ROADING THE BACKLBOCKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 555, 2 April 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, April 2nd, 1913 ROADING THE BACKLBOCKS.

- The tour of the Minister of Public Worka through the North Auckland district has evidently impresoed the Minister with the urgent necessity of roads throughout the North Island, and vs/e may safely assume that in framing the next Estimates roading

will figure prominently on the list. Since taking office Mr Fraser has frequently referred to the fact that the applications for grants were bo greatly in excess of the money available for the eeapon that the cutting down process was a matter of infinite work and difficulty. The Minister further denounced the practice of applying for larger grants in the hope of getting portion, and was apparently under the impression that the practice of applying for excessive amounts was indulged in. A calm Burvoy of the position now that he has seen a considerable portion of the badly roaded districts of the North Island may load Mr Fraser to conclude that though the amounts applied for were in excess of the money available they were not excessive as far as tho requirements of the country were concerned. It cannot fail to be realised that in the paßt ten years settlement in the North Island has altogether outstripped the roading facilities, and the making up of the leeway ia a matter for the serious consideration of (he Government. The system of road grants which has been in vogue hitherto has been generally condemned, and it is quite within the bounds of possibility that 1 an effort to inaugurate a different ayetern will be made. It is to be sincerely hoped, however,, that any innovation contemplated will not be in the hope of cutting down tho expenditure on roads Had the land settlement policy of the past few years provided for adequate roading as settlement took place the present acute position would not have been created. As mattera Btand the country is in greater need than ever for roads, which constitute the first essential of settlement. In the firßt years of settlement the pioneers may be able to carry on their improvements, and work their sactiona Without suffering unduly from the lack of good road 3, but when a whole district is brought to the producing stage, the amount of capital represented in improvements and stock is so great that every facility is required in order a to pay interest on invested capital, and have something left over to carry on. Much of this district has arrived at that stage, and any check to road expenditure will bo a Berious handicap to people who have striven hard to convert the wilderness into a garden. It may be argued that the responsibility as regards these settlers has ended, and this may bo true as far as road grants are concerned, but the responsibiliy of placing capital at the disposal of the settlers in order to complete their roading schomeß is one of the most important factors of the case. The one absolute necessity which the settler must have in order to succeed is a system of metalled roads, and in providing money to that end the Government is contributing more to general tho prosperity of the country than is possible in any other direction. The saving of heavy freights to the settlor, tho ready sale and pjrehase of stock, the carriage of supplies to tho dairy factory, to say nothing of the increased facilities for social intercourse which means bo much in the back blocks, are all dependent upon tho roads. These items constitute the important things of the settlors' existence both from the business and social point of view. In the circumstances it is not to bo wondered at that the settler makes strenuous efforts to obtain roads, and considering the extent of settlement during the past decade it is quite understandable the demands for roads

may seem extravagant to a Minister new to office. It, is to be sincerely hoped Mr Eraser will remember in considering road demands he is deal" ing with a matter which is vital to many hundreds of deserving individuals, and to the prosperity of the Dominion bb a whole.