ROADS IN THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 282, 29 November 1938, Page 8

ROADS IN THE NORTH.

INACCESSIBLE SETTLEMENTS.

(To the Editor.)

The comment* of Auckland commercial leaders on the Prime Minister's pronouncement regarding the expansion of production can in the main be generally supported, but one remark made by Mr. J. A. C. Allum will be received with utmost concern by people in the North. He is reported to have said, "It muet be remembered that Xew Zealand has developed far ahead of its immediate needs." There is general agreement with Mr. Savage's opinion that "Xew Zealand's immediate need ie increased production." I have just returned from a tour of the northern part of the Bav of Islands electorate. If Mr. Allum could make that tour he would realise how far from fact his contention is. Though the position has improved to some extent during the last three years, the plight of the North is st'il deplorable. Settlere living up to twenty mile* away from centres have jet no means of access, so that the cost of conveying essential manures and farming equipment generally is i prohibitive. Large areas of fertile land that ,could carry many families to expand that ! needed production are lying id'le and undeUeloped, and some farms are deserted and S reverting to fern owing to lack of access. Settlers far from the nearest doctors have no telephone communication—in fact people like Mr. Allum, surrounded by all the amenities of modern civilisation, have no conception of the rigorous conditions under which these pioneers of to-day are battling to develop Xew Zealand. Settlers living under these conditions have neither the purchasing power to buy, nor the facilities to take delivery of the products of our secondary industries. This can be corrected only by an energetic policy of development through the Public Works. A great deal of the finest land in Xew Zealand lies within the Bay of Islands electorate, where the climate is second to none. Owing to the extensive areas unsettled, or held by non-ratepayinsr natives, the county councils are quite unable to provide more access roads; indeed cannot maintain existing roads in a state of reasonable efficiency. We cannot agree with Mr. Allum** statement. We urge him and others who do agree with him to throw no obstacle in the ■way of the Government's policy of development, by means of the Public Works, of the rural lands, and more particularly those potentially rich but longneglected areas lying north of Whangrarei. If the State provides reasonable facilities for access to markets, the Xorth will provide the increased production. CHAS. W. BOSWELL, M.P.