King Country Chronicle Saturday, Dec. 13th, 1913 A ROADING SCHEME

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 627, 13 December 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, Dec. 13th, 1913 A ROADING SCHEME

There ore gratifying indications on all hands that the settlers of this dla • trict nrc at lcnjrth awakening to their reßponeibil s ties in the matter of rosding, but that further knowledge ia necessary in the matter of undertttkring the roading of native lands h jll.Bt ns evident. The Otewa Bettl«rj iw promoting a scheme which can ulti- | mately ho carried further on a thoroughly equitable besis have Bet an example which may well be folloowed by otherp, nnd the Waitomo County must be given credit for the origination of a scheme which provides for the gradual accomplishment of the permanent reading of a whole district. It is significant, however, that the roading scheme in question comes to a blind end when it reaches blocks of native-owned land. A glance at the county map ia sufficient to indicate the position. It is obvious the road system must be carried through some day to link up with the road system which has been put through from the Te Kuiti end, yet little apparent effort id visible. The Rangitoto road ha» been carried out a mile or two by the Government and a further grant iB on the current year'B Estimates to carry it a few miles further. Exactly how much will be done on the road is not yet known, but it is safe to assert that aa soon as the settlers on Crown lands have been given cccss to their sections the Government work will cense. In view of what tiaß transpired in the paßt the other settlers concerned will be required to take the initiative in any movement to carry the road further. The fact that the settlers or the native lands will require to plan, survey, and construct the roads oi their own bnds should inspire those concerned to prompt action in theii own interests. As far as responsibility for roading is concerned the burden to the Bettler is not likely to diminish, and the sooner action is taken to have necessary roads surveyed and put through the sooner the settler will be in a position to demand assistance. The principle of subsidising those who are anxious to help themselves has been adopted by the Government, and with the help of a £ for £ subsidy, and the further assistance granted by way of concession in meeting the interest on loans in the case of work in outlying districts the burden on settlers wilV not be overwhelming, even where the road hai to be formed and metalled. All that district on the eastern side of the line lying between Te Kuiti and Otorohanga and extending to the Waipa river is in urgent need of roading, and prompt action is necessary in order to establish a proper and efficient roading system which will connect with the syßtem which already serves the Crown settlers. It is to be hoped the settlers concerned will realise the urgency of the matter and take nctifti immediately. The preliminaries necessary for the mapping out and financing a scheme of such a nature take considerable time and to have everything in order to undertake the work next season prompt action ii necessary. The way has been opened by the acceptance of the Government of the subsidy principle, and the matter is of much too great importance to permit of any unnecessary delay. It is needless to reiterate such arguments as that the settler by getting a road to .lis property .saves more in freight charges than will pay interest on the money raised. This and the other manifold advantages are thoroughly realised by those concerned,and it iB only a matter of organisation to have a proper scheme inaugurated and carried out