King Country Chronicle Wednesday, June 25th, 1913 ROADING AND SETTLEMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 579, 25 June 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, June 25th, 1913 ROADING AND SETTLEMENT.

With the approach of the session the various local bodies are taking active Bteps towards placing the various roading requirements before Parliament. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works have each made a comprehensive tour of the North Island with a view to ascertai 1ing the most urgent needs of the various districts, and also determining in which districts the works are most urgently required. There can be no two opinions as to the most urgent requirements of the King Country. Nor is it likely any other district in the Dominion stands in more need of immediate and eyrrmathetic consideration at toe hands of the Government. Mr Massey made no secret of his opinion as to the requirements of the district, and stated that the Government's desire Would only be limited by the exigencies of finance. It ia gratifying to find the Premier of the country holding such an opinion, and there is no doubt the district will receive at least its share of the public money. It is to be devoutly hoped** however, that a strong effort will be made to bring before the Government the necessity for an alteraI ■ tion in the roading system. Particularly in respect to the roading of native land is it necessary to stand sturdily for a further consideration of the question, and our public men will be doing themselves nothing more than justice by advocating the matter in the strongest poFsible manner. The Government ia entering upon a policy of activity in respect to land settlement, and unless extreme care is taken there is danger that the roading phase of the settlement ques tion will be somewhat neglected Paßt experience in this district has given a severe lesson to the pioneer, and every effort should be turned towards preventing a repetition of these conditions. Exactly how Mr Massey expects to be able to quicken th<; settlement of the country, and at the same time improve the roading conditions of the land already settled has not been made clear. It i'b bevond the shadow of dnubt, however, that unle?s the roading facilities of the backb'ocks are improved, at a more rapid rate than has been the case in the past, the Dominion must suffer considerably. The declared object of the Government is to increase at the most rapid rate possible the volume of e rports from the Dominion, and presumbaly, the activity in land settlement ia for the purpose <>f achieving this desirable end. No fault will be found with the scheme, which is the dream of each succeeding Ministry. It should be remembered, I kowever, that the exports of the Dominion at present could be enormously increased without another acre being opened - for settlement. Efficient and permanent roading facilities would enable the farmers of a vcy large district to produce to a degree at present undreamed of. As far as dairying is concerned, the backblock reason is at least two months shorter than mould be the case, and this loss alone is responsible lor startling figures. It is needless, however, to recapitulate the details of a time-worn arrgument. We would emphasise the urgency of road improvement on every possible occasion, and it" is to be hoped our legislators will not fail to recognise the necessity and urgency of the question in preference to any other phase of land settlement.