King Country Roads.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, 29 May 1908, Page 3

King Country Roads.

The King Country Chronicle publisted the following letter to the Edi ter

“Bib, —Kindly all >w me u little space in your valuable paper, in wbicb to air some of the grievances the back blocks have to pnt up with. Last w— k wp bad fnur Government officers travelling about this district for three days, accompanied by a Mrori packer, with riding-horse and pack bnrse* I nnderstand the Maori was cock and general rouseabout for the officials. The only man I saw working in the district was a foreman, and he was

shifting slips. Now, sir we hear a lot about the amount of money we are go

log to get for our roads, but I would think, if the money those officials re* ceive in travelling allowance and mis cellaneouß expenses, was spent in filling up tbs bog boles in some of onr so called roads, it would be a greater benefit to the settlers than the sight of officials riding round the district eating up whatever little money we have for road maintenance.—Yours, etc.,*A Sbttlxb.

Above the letter is an editorial note, M follows :—“The columns of this paper are always open to settlers to give publicity to their requirements and grievances, but in the case of a reflection on a Government official, it should be remembered that such officials have not the privilege of reply. As long as correspondence is confined to criticising the system, we shall be pleased to publish it; when the criticism extends to the officer, in the interests of fairplay, we must decline.”

At the Farmers' Union Conference in Auckland last week, Mr Boddie (Te Kuiti) moved that the Provincial and Colonial Councils should be urged to bring all the influence the Union Can command to induce the Govern* ment to adopt a more progressive policy in roading the back districts of the King Country. Referring to the parochial appearance of the remit the mover said it was questionable if the Union as an organisation having kindred interests should no* deal with a motion covering a greater area. In the King Country roading was the burning question. Through the blundering of the Government, the suffering of the settlers was acute, Mr Lusk, who seconded, said that the land had been loaded for roadmaking but even to-day settlers had to out tracks through the supplejacks to get provisions in. They bad been paying lor years for roads which were not in existence. The settlers were prepared io rate themselves heavily to obtain roads. They had been promised £1 for fl subsidy on money raised, and when they had made all arrangements ihe Government bad replied to their notification, "We cannot see our way to give a subsidy thia year.” The main road from Taranaki to Auckland was impassable to vehicles for seven months of the year. Mr J. Barrie (Waibou) suggested a strike if the Government did not carry out their part of the agreement.