SOLDIER SETTLEMENT ROADING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 162, 10 July 1926, Page 10

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT ROADING.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE SOUGHT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) MORRIXSVILUS, Friday. The Kereone soldier settlers have been endeavouring for some time to have their roads metalled, but have not been able to raise a loan on account or there being no security for the collection of rates from Crown lands. As a result of several meetings the settlers sent two of their number (Messrs. A. Wild and M. Anderson) to Wellington in order to interview the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands. They asked that the Government should (1) give the county council first charge upon the land for the collection of rates; or (2) put the soldiers off their sections if they did not pay their rates; or (3) metal the roads and charge the-cost to the settlers. Returning from their trip the deputation reported that the Prime Minister had promised that something would be done for the soldiers this year and the balance of the work would be arranged for the following year, but no definite statement was made to indicate the nature of the help which would be forthcoming. The Piako county chairman (Mr W. R. Long), who also interviewed the Minister on the Fame matter, states that the Minister promised a good subsidy for the roads. The Minister appreciated the difficulty in raising a loan over a soldiers' settlement, but stated that the council could not be entitled to a claim on the land for rates. The Government was waiting for the council to do its share in the matter of roading before giving any help.