The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 22. ROADING THE BACKBLOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8065, 22 March 1906, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 22. ROADING THE BACKBLOCKS.

We trust that the New Plymouth citizens will not lose sight of the question brought up at the last meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce by Mr W. Kerr, in connection with road communication with the coast from the back-blocks. Tapping the back-blocks by loads from the coast means that the biggest part of the inland trade will come to the capital of the province. It will be seen by a perusal of the petition to the House of Representatives, published elsewhere in this issue, that the people of the back country, as well as those on the coast, are alive to the necessity of bursting the bonds which hitherto have held the settlers and diverted the trade of that portion of the province from its proper course. The petition, setting forth their grievances, is, we understand, being signed by all the people in the back-bloeks. It is proposed to wait upon the Minister for Public Works, as soon as ho visits tho district, in furtherance of the prayer of the petition. The Mold road only wants about four miles' formation to be right through. The Marco to Okoki connection is the most direct means of getting from Whangainoinona, and the district up to the Moki road, to the coast, The Okoki road leads into Urenui, while the Moki road leads to Ureti. Both short connections are very necessary, j What is said in the petition for tho Whangamoniona people, may be said ovum more forcibly for the Mangaron people, in regard to the Moki road. The danger is that a promotion of several roads may cause a stoppage of all. Since, however, the people on the coast, as well as those of the in-1 te-'ior, are petitioning for the Marco to Okoki connection, it would be well if the Chamber of Commerce, and New Plymouth people generally, would consider the matter, and back up the present movement, The people north of the Wlmngamomona district have the Mangawata road, running parallel with the Moki, and joining the Marco where the connection is asked to commence. It seems extraordinary that roads from the interior should be vigorously pushed on to meet other roads from the coast, and, when within a few miles of forming a junction, that work is suddenly stopped, and stopped for years. Also, that settlers living within a few miles of eacli other, in order to visit one another, should have to travel about a hundred miles. The settlers, not knowing where to place the blame, have determined to lay the matter before the House, and it is to be hoped that the Government will give the petition careful consideration and do everything possible to assist the settlers of- our back country to obtain the roading facilities they are so badly in need of.