DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 648, 4 March 1914, Page 6

DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.

MR C. K. WILSON INTERVIEWED. necessity: for roading SCHEME. EXTENSION OF COUNTIES. During his recent tour of the district, Mr C. K. Wilson, member for the district, made a special study of the road problems which confronted the settlers in the various localities. Interviewed by Chronicle representative, Mr Wilson said he was convinced that the grant system had failed to give to the settlers the road facilities necessary to enable them to carry on the important work of settlement under reasonable conditions. He was convinced there was only one sound policy which could be carried out successfully. He was in favour of the classification of counties for the purDose of affording the greatest basis tance to the younger and more struggling counties and would also advocate a comprehensive loan for the purpose of completing the chief d ; Btrict roads. Action in that direction would place the settlers in much better position to carry on their holdings.and it would pay the Government infinitely better than the system of annual grants which meant carrying on the work in piecemeal fashion. He regretted extremely the fact that the scheme he had advocated for the metalling of the Te Kuiti-Awakino road and branch roads had fallen through in consequence of the stringency of the money market. However, it was a hopeful sign that the Government was assisting the settlers liberally in the matter of subsidies, and he was glad that his efforts, in this direction had assisted the district.

Concerning the setting up of new counties, Mr Wilson said the establishing of small counties was a mistake, and the tendency should be in the direction of establishing responsible local bodies and of extending their sphere of influence. This was an infinitely more economical method and Blso gave the local bodies a much better standing He inßtunced the West Taupo County and suggested that in the interests of all concerned it would be advisable for that district to be absorbed by the contiguous counties of Kaitieke, Waitomo and Waipa, rather than set up separate local government. It should be made possible for this to be accomplished without bringing the county in question into operation, as when a separate local body was once established contending influences got to work, and obstacles were thrown in the way of carrying out the best scheme in the interests of all concerned. Questioned as to the probability of a Local Government Bill being intro duce 3 to Parliament during the coming session, Mr Wilson expressed himself as doubtful. It was the last session of the present Parliament and there were a great many important matters to deal with. Any Local Government Bill was bound to give rise to prolonged debate and should be introduced in the early stages of Parliament. However, there was no reason why provision should not be made fur the apportionment of an inoperative county among contiguous countieß. That was practically a local matter and need give rise to little discussion.