King Country Chronicle Wednesday, August 20th, 1913 ROADING NATIVE LANDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 595, 20 August 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, August 20th, 1913 ROADING NATIVE LANDS.

Notwithstanding all that has been said and written on the subject of roading in this district there still appears to be a lack of comprehension on the pact of the settlers regarding the position of native lands in respect to roads. Applications, continue to come before the county council for roads through native blocks, and it is as well that the settlers should thoroughly realise that the responsibility of I roading native lands rests entirely I with the settlers themselves. The | general rate levied by the county is absorbed in administration and rnointennce, and any construction or metalling work has to be provided for by means of special i)an for which a specia rate is levied. With reference to the taking of a road through native land all that the council can be expected to do is to apply, at the request of the settlers interested, for j the issue of a Governor's warrant for the survey of a road, the expenses of the survey' being guaranteed by the settlers. Once the road is placed on | the plan and gazetted an application I hi ay be made to the Government for 2 f grant to construct the road,but hitherI to all applications in this respect have met with refusal and the intimation that the land should pay for its own roading. The theory is excellent and in cases where only native land is benefitted by the road there can be litfcle exception taken to it. It is common knowledge, however, that the ! majority of these roads, which must 'eventually ba constructed whoever bears the coata, will benefit Crown . land, and the contention is justly and j I that the Government should assist in I the construction. The more the road!ing- position of the district is analysed tha more apparent does it become that some comprehensive scheme of roading on lines suggested by the Backblocks Local Bodies Assoeiaton is urgently necessary. The local bodies have no method of financing the construction jof the roads, to force the settlers to find the money for surveying, forming and matalling the roads is placing on 1 them a responsibility which is in most cases altogether equitable. The adoption by the Government of a comprehensive scheme for unroaded districts, with a view to facilitating settlements altogether desirable and the adjustment of responsibility for carrying out the work would naturally

follow. It i 3 to be hoped the recommendations already hud before (InCabinet will be acted upon for the adoption of a definite and vigorous policy in respect to the roading of both native and Crown lands means much to the district and to the Dominion at large.