ASSISTING SETTLERS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 226, 1 March 1928, Page 4

ASSISTING SETTLERS.

Commenting on the facts stressed in the series of articles appearing in the Putaruru Press on “ Opening Up New Lands ” a Putaruru settler writes:— “ 1 have no hesitation in stating that the Government has not to my knowledge done very much to lessen the burden or lighten the anxiety of the backblocks settler. In my opinion the Government would be well advised to make special concessions to all settlers living over a certain distance from a town, as undoubtedly the telephone is badly needed in most out-back farms, and of course none or few of us would be without it if the price was within reason. Personally I am badly in need of the telephone at present, but the price the department is asking, between £l4 and £ls per annum, is out of all reason, and the line is already running past my house.

“We are told by the Government to get back and take up cheaper land, and quite rightly, too (there is room for hundreds here), but what assistance or encouragement (compared with the city dweller) do we get?—bad roads, no telephone, poor postal facilities and in many cases no neighbours for miles.

“As regards postal facilities I might mention that we are endeavouring to get a post office in this district, and the treatment, or I should say the consideration, we have received from the P. and T. Depart- > ment in the matter is little short of scandalous. We approached them some considerable time ago and asked them to build a suitable post Office, and were told that if we wanted a post office we would havg to build it ourselves. However, a section (one acre) has been donated for the purpose, and after considerable writing and many meetings of settlers we have got a promise of £65 subsidy, and we have to find the balance, about £IOO, from the settlers and those willing to assist, most of whom are already well taxed one way or another. This is only one instance of how the settler is catered for by the present Government.

“ In conclusion I wish to say that I am exceedingly glad to see at least one writer game and willing to take up matters of this kind.”