King Country Chronicle Wednesday, Dec 17th, 1913 ROADING THE DISTRICT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 628, 17 December 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, Dec 17th, 1913 ROADING THE DISTRICT.

! Each moo tiny of the County Cauncil sees various phases of (.lie roasiny problem brought up !ov discussion, and the matter of reading natiw lauds now in occujint.icir, o( Europeans is one of the mnpt important (pua-U.ms as:--o-I ciated with settlement in (he c;uiiily. j The R[invitoto district, \. kh li com is! • | largely of native lands in European occupation ic vitally aii'<-.M(d by the reading question. Tim lane; v-s taken up by tmtUors wit hunt smmiS provision having hem mak" ms mailing, and in order io ''■''■ >'■■"'> r ''" l '-' i '-' j able access to their iimanms t.'e J settlers are confrontee! wnh tne respnosibilily o( initiating Mid carry me out reading schemes o; considerable dimensions. Hitherto the "id native track? have .-minced (o sivo temporary access to most of '-he hnldsuss. hut as settlement has increased t.he | necessity of a definite and eomprc- \ hensive reading scheme ha: hecome j apparent. The settlor:; beyond the end of the Ranieioto r.Kni ami (here who are temporarily rerved hy theAhuros. track are alike faced with the necessity of establishing proper road access. Fortunately hath scheme: can he made, to work in with the loading which has already been eanied out by the Government, and hy means of setting up special rat my; areas aim raising loans those who will hem fit j by the roads can be made io emit skate ; their iust proportion towards (lie . work. The position created en the j Rangitoto block is a .• igniiiean'Jy J strong argument in iavonr of the adoption hy the Government <>f a com- j prohensive scheme ot readme; such as has been se strongly advocated in these columns from time to time, and j we trust the opportunity v. ill net lie | allowed to pass of spam nrping upon | the authorities the o.\fMiK i wisdom of the step. While dealing with the subject we wonUl point out. that as. the reading schemes about to be promoted

by the settlers will either directly or indirectly benefit Gtrown lands substantial subsidies Bbould be granted for any loanß raised by the settlers. The whole work from the purvey to the final mc'.alling of the roads has to be undertaken by the settlers, and the responsibility of the Governmev.t in thii matter should be freely nnd prornj..ly recognised. An important feature in connection with roading and one which h«B been frequently referred to by the present Minister of Public Works is the neceßßity of mctallii-K new roads as Boon as possible after formation. By adopting thin cuiirse much unnecessary expenditure in repairing and maintaining clay roads is obviated, while the value of the road to the settlers is immeasurably enhanced from the start. In promoting the Bchemeß referred to, we would strongly urge upon those interested the advinabiility of going in for a loan sufficient to metal, the roads. If a loan for formation only is raised the expenditure for upkeep will be considerable, and in a very short time a further loan will be necessary to metal the road. By undertaking the whole of the work in the first place it is practically certain a £ for £ subsidy will be granted by the Government, but if the metalling is delayed and the money for that work raised subsequently there is always a danger of a further subsidy being refined. The settlers are to be commended for their enterprise in promoting the scheme, and it is to be boped they will be impressed with the necessity of making the road and metalling it, without having to again appeal to the authorities for assistance which may, or may not, be granted.