The Waikato Times "OMNE SOLUM FORTH PARRIA." THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3,1872

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 67, 3 October 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times "OMNE SOLUM FORTH PARRIA." THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3,1872

Is our last issue we pointed out the discrepancies between the statements of the late and the present Colonial Treasurers. We are no wiser now than we weie then as to which i.s the nearer correct. We also curtly alluded to the fact that Mr Gillies, in his statement, had expressed the determination of the Government to cease granting assistance to Road Hoards. A more injudicious step could hardly have been taken, either in a party or broad political sense. .No man, belter than ho, should be aware ot the absolute necessity for those grants, or some substitute for them, if I,he country is to make any progress whatever. We are glad to see that some of the eading rate-pavers in Xgaruawahia have called a meeting to consider the policy enunciated by the Treasurer, and trust that every settlement in the Waikato will have its meeting for the purpose of protesting. ag;unst a policy wliich practically ignores the interests of those settlers ■who may be said to have been the pioneers of colonisation. The settlers in this district are certainly not entitled to any such treatment at the hands of the Government. They have manfully stayed and struggled on their land

through good and tHI report; they have opened up large tracts of country under very great difficulties; they took up land which more opulent and more timid settlers .shrank from occupying. The men who have done this wore by no means men of large means when they commenced, and have laboured under greater disadvantages perhaps than the settlers of any other district in the North Island. It is needless, therefore, to point out that tlic money contributed by them to the Road Board funds has been scraped together by the most unflinching economy, and money so earned has naturally not been expended on any works not absolutely necessary if the contriluiters were to continue to occupy their land. The great aim of New Zealand Governments for some years past has been to induce a steady flow of immigration.. It has now commenced to set in, as may be seen by the telegrams we publish in another column; no less than 2,598 left the shores of Great Britain within two months for New Zealand. These people will have to be settled in the out-districts. This would have been impossible liad it not been for the work performed by the Road Boards—llo Government could settle immigrants on land to which there was no means of access. If the grants to the Eoad Boards are discontinued, further settlement of the Waikato must cease, and many of the settlers will leave, who are occupying land at the present time, in hope that at no distant date roads will be constructed to enable them to get their produce to market at a cost which will give a fair margin for profit.. Wo are- not speaking wildly when we make this statement, for more than one case has been brought to our notice in which no other course will be open to some of oiu' farmers. We have plainly stated the ease, it now remains in the hands of the settlers themselves to hold meetings- for the purpose of protesting against a Government continuing in power who expend large sums of money in the importation of population, and at the same time pursue a course towards the settlers already in the country which if it does not drive them away in disgust, will so contract their operations as to keep them poor, and in consequence retard the progress of the colony.