PROBLEMS OF THE BACKBLOCKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 8

PROBLEMS OF THE BACKBLOCKS.

Ts one to understand by the letter of "Emigrant's Daughter" (bat a number of farmers on the Groat Barrier in desperate need of a wharf have been driven to eniplov desperate measures to protect and advinca their own livelihood? If the case as stated is line, then the facts should be broadcast not only to the people of Xew Zealand, but to a hopeful emigrants in the Old Country. ( an ,(. be with a Labour Government in power the party which, through its Minister of PublU Works, has repeatedly boasted of it* intention, to help the man who is prepared to help himself, and to give access facilities, to outbid! farmers, that these men have been driven— evklently under the very nose of the Public »orl« engineer— to sweat out years of life that they and their children may live .-. little, more decently? If (Ins is so. then the ease should lie thoroughly investigated. One can hardly imagine that such men were so stupid as not to investigate every avenue of possible financial aid before deciding all that remained was to take on this stupendous task themselves. The question arises, if such or, this goes on in one locality with cognition of the Government, where else and to what extent is similar work being bled out of our unknown wayback settlers? A wharf is no mean job; it perhaps means a matter of £2000 to £3000 handed over via the Marino Department to the State. This, to my mind, is unfair. It certainly would be interesting to hear the "ins and outs" of this particular case. Is it merely one ot official bungling or rank Governmental injustice? Whichever it be. thin; matter should be voiced on the floor of the House under the tltle DEEDS, XOT WORDS.