The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1913. ROAD FOR THE BACKBLOCKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 19, 23 September 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1913. ROAD FOR THE BACKBLOCKS.

Remarking that country members "had an innings" on the Land Department Estimates on Friday last, and that as usual on .such occasions the question of roads for backblock settlers loomed large, the "Dominion" goes on to say that though the subject is a stereotyped one, and it is to lie roared that its importance to the [people of the Dominion generally as! well us to the settlers immediately concerned is not sufficiently appreciated, there, is a tendency whenever discussion takes place over a longstanding grievance to give little heed

to arguments which have grown familiar through constant repetition, and oven those using them are often less elective than they might he owing to the tact that the\ reailse they arc telling an oft-told tale. lint those who realty know, as many in tins district do, what untold and almost unbelievable hardship is suffered through want of roads will entirely agree with the Vt ellington paper when it says: Yet this matter of providing adequate road access for settlers in the outlying dis- j iricts is one of the most vital neccs-. sities the Government has to face.j For years past it has been a stand-j

ing grievance with settlers; for yeais past the Continuous Ministry promised to meet the situation and do justice, to the settlers who with their families have been enduring unnecessary hardship and privation because of the, lack of proper access to their hold-, mgs; and for years past the question has been trifled with. The Reform party has undertaken to improve matters, and something more is expected from it than has been done by its predecessors. In the Government Landj Bill provision is made for all taxation derived from settlers in roadless districts being expended on road work in the districts from which the taxation is collected. This is something, but the whole question of road-

ing requires to be put on a better footing. Sir Walter Buchanan, Mr J. G. Coates, and other members directed attention on Friday evening to weaknesses in the existing system, and the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Public Works might well confer with the officers of their respective Departments with a view to formulating a comprehensive and active policy of road construction.