King Country Chronicle Wednesday, June 4th, 1913. ROADING NECESSITIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 573, 4 June 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, June 4th, 1913. ROADING NECESSITIES.

The cry of the backblocks is always emphasised in winter when such roads as are provided in the remote districts are almost impassable even for horse traffic. A striking example of tho absolute nceessity for roads in certain districts is afforded by the experi ence of the Kinohaku settler who was desirous of removing to Waitanguru, a distance by road of fifteen miles. Owing to there being no better means of communication than a bridle track, the settler was forced to send his furniture to Onehunga via Kawhia by steamer, thence by rail to Te Kuiti, from where it was carried by waggons to Waitanguru. Surely no stronger argument in favour of a sound roading policy was ever ad vanced. Evidently the settler was fortunate in obtaining access to Kawhia. Similar examples are to be found in many portions of the King Country, while cases of a less glaring nature exist on all sides. The Marokopa district suffers acutely by reason of the extremely bad access to the railway, and the delay in completing the formation of the various roads , between that district and Te Kuiti is difficult to understnad. It is to be devoutly hoped the petitions submitted by the settlers and the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce to the Government concerning these roads will bear good fruit. At the same time We would point out that petitions for the completion of legitimate work which was commenced a decade back, and which vitally affects settlement of the country should be entirely unnecessary. The settlement policy which provides for the throwing open of land, without making ample provision for access to port or railway, is lamentably defective. Admitted that the march of settlement temporarily outran the roading, it was the imperative duty of the Administration to bring the'roading up to the requirements of settlement at the earliest possible date. That this has not been done is forcibly demonstrated in the district referred to, and it is to ha hoped there will be no cessation of agitation in the matter until the desired end is accomplished. In addition, the obvious duty of the Government is to take the necessary steps to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the position in this or in any other district where settlement is progressing. entirely different character, yet of at least equal importance to the district and to the Dominion, is the position of the lands on the eastern side of Te Kuiti. The Rangitoto blocks contain some of the finest land, and some of the most progressive settlers in the King Coun- ! try, yet the roading facilities are of the most primitive character. The position is complicated in consequence of the fact that much of the land has been acquired direct from the owners, and the Government declines to accept any responsibility for tho roading of native lands. While admitting the soundness of the prin ciple, it may be justly contended that of even greater importance to the country than the upholding of the principle mentioned is the settlement of the land, and the first essential of settlement is a proper roading system. It is undoubtedly the legitimate function of the Government to solve the problem which has been presented. If legislation is necessary for the purpose of ensuring that the people receiving the benefit will nay their just portion of the cost, no time should bo lost in having the necessary laws enacted. The present position is intolerable, and it is to be hoped the people of the district will contrive to remedy an evil which is seriously re tarding orogreßs, and which only become worse the longer it is allowed to remain.