The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 50, 3 April 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1878.

Tnt a previous issue we drew attention to tho fact that the Palmerston Borough Council at its last sitting resolved itself into a Committee for the -purpose of taking action with regard to tho Karere Block. Since then tho matter has been freely discussed by the Manawatu County Council, the two bodies being perfectly m accord as to the necessity for the construction of "sectional roads and dtainago works prior to the block being placed m the mar-ket for sale, County Council, how-:', over, has gono a stop further than the Corporation, and m addition to. affirming tho desirablity of sueh^aA course, have, m a resolution — whioh,no doubt, will bs forwarded to the Lands Department — stated that the Council \yere willing tq undertake*the work i'or the Government, pro-* 4 vided a sufficient sum of mon^y was placed to ita crodit for the p'erformnnce of- the undertaking. There is, however, another step-io betaken, ajul the matter shbuld not b'eftUow^

to drop there. The fate of petitions to the House, or resolutions, is too well known, to lead us to imagine that, unless backed up by energetic action, an object can be obtained. When tho House is sitting, petitions, though they may have received thousands of signatures, are presented iri a perfunctory manner by an hon. member, and there the matter ends. So it is with resolutions, be they passed by however so numerous a meeting, or influential a body. A curt official acknowledgement of receipt may be returned, with the stereotyped promise of "placing the matter before his hon. colleagues," and the Ministerial responsibility is at an end. To be effective, or to answer the purpoae for which it - was passed, a resolution must have something beyond its mere formal wording. Let a deputation be appointed, selected from either Council or Corporation, or better still from both, to proceed to Wellington and point out to the Lands Minister the excellent arguments which can be brought forward m favor of the step, and the chances are ten to one upon its recognition. By advancing the necessary funds forthe prosecution of the undertaking, the Government would be supplying intending settlers with the means of taking up small holdings, placing facilities withiu their reach of getting land which would be otherwise closed to them for years to come, beside which the enhanced value of the public estate when "brought to fhe hammer would return a splendid pi'oflt upon the outlay. However, weighty no doubt as this last argument may appear, we hold that it should be viewed as least important m dealing with the matter ; and any course which would recommend itself as likely to promote speedy and legitimate settlement, should . outweigh all other considerations. By the course hitherto pursued, of throwiug open for selection bush land through which no roads have been made, the' struggling settler has been most effectually disbarred from securing a foothold, and consequently a most eligible class completely ignored. We have no doubt,, however, that our representatives m the above named bodies having thus taken the initiative, will carry out the suggestion made, and bring such pressure upon the Department, as will induce it to fall m with the views put forth.