MUD-BOUND SETTLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 197, 20 August 1919, Page 7

MUD-BOUND SETTLERS.

I WAJfT TO GET OUT. XEEDS OF THE NORTH. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Tuesday. Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P. for Bay ol Island?, visited Whanga-rei to-day for rthe purpose of receiving- resolutions in reference to the raising of loans, -within certain readjusted ridings lying witihin the Bay of Islands electorate. The first request was from MoJigakahia district, the ratepayers of wlrieu are considering the raising* of a loan for the purpose ot metalling all main roads, using tile balance to metal by-roads. Taking into consideration the £ for £ grant from the Government, it was hoped to expend £36,000. The second deputation was from the Ototiga Riding, where it is proposed in a similar way to expend £28,----000, half of whkih is reckoned as Government subsidy. The (third deputation was from a portion of the Hikurangi Riding, situated in the Bay of Islands electorate, where it is proposed to raise a loan equivalent to £ 12,000, taking Government subsidy into account. Deputation iats strongly stressed tJie fact that in the past the Government had derived enormous revenue from kauri forests, running into thirty-five j million pounds. If royalty had been paid on this timber the sum raised would have been sufficient to metal the -whole of the roads in the North. Notwith. standing this, settlers in the areas indicated were willing to rate themselves to get out of the mud. Farmers realised the call lor increased production, and wore quite prepared to do their ehaxe to bring this about, but they looked to the Government to do it 3 share too, in making provision of roads. Reference was also made to the serious drawback to the adm in i strait ion of local bodies by reason of large unproductive areas of Crown and native land, which are also non-rate paying. Mr. Reed, in 'his reply, expressed has to assicrt. in raising these loan,*, and in obtaining from the Minister £ for £ Government support, but he reminded them that Sir Wm. Fraser had laid it down as a rule that he would not consent to commit future revenue. They could not expend more than £ fox £ subsidy in one year's expenditure. The Mamgakahia scheme was to expend £10,000 per annum, and the otiher two proposals were intended to be spread over a period of throe years.