ROADS IN FAR NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1930, Page 20

ROADS IN FAR NORTH.

MB. RANSOM'S INSPECTION.

REQUESTS OF SETTLERS.

SELF HELP ENCOURAGED. (By .Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ' , KAITAIA, Wednesday.. The. Minister of Public Works, the Hon E. A. Ransom, arrived to-day from Whangaroa, -via Mangonui. He met many settlers and in the ' evening the members of the . Mangonui ' County: Council brought, forward;many requests. Mr. W. Lane, chairman of the Whanga-. roa County Council, asked the Minister's support in securing for settlement part of the Omahuta ' block, south-west of Whangaroa Harbour. Mr. Ransom said he would discuss the matter with the Minister of Lands at Mangonui. He agreed to discuss also the MangonuiTaipa, Pae and Wainui blocks, -which Mr. K. T. Wrathall urged should, be opened for settlement. .... Mr* Ransom''was the first Minister to CO into the Ivapumaru block, and lie was° congratulated by a large deputation. Mr. A. C. Jameson said the settlers were' prepared to deliver 1500 yards of ehingle without charge for the improvement of, the access road, and they asked the Minister's help. , •• ' . The Minister said he had never yet turned down a requisition which was backed- by an offer to do- free work or provide ' material, and he promised a further subsidy of £100 for this road. Mr.' Wrathall expressed warm appreciation of the changes made by the Government in Hh'e automatic, system of allocating funds to the counties. He considered that the real back blocks were placed in a much better position. Mr. Ransom : said Mr. Wrathall had evidently grasped the purpose, of the change, which' was to help the totnets which had the greatest difficulty, and thus help to restore the productivity of deteriorated lands. The, system was on trial, and if at the end of the year it was shown that, there were further alterations ,which would give;.nioio help to the back blocks tliey would have his .support. He wished to do everything I possible, to remove .the hardship of bad ' roads.

The Mangonui County Council members in the evening asked for free grants for a considerable number of small works. In a general reply the Minister said he could scarcely believe that the councillors -were serious in all their requests. Most of them were not for large sums, £200 appearing to be a popular amount. If they were all granted not less than £5000 of free money would be involved. He promised them careful consideration, but added, amidst laughter, that most of his notes had been on the lines of "Why did you not do it yourselves?" ■-