BACK COUNTRY ROADS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14379, 12 June 1912, Page 11

BACK COUNTRY ROADS.

. , A meeting of tho Ashley County Council with Mr J. O'Halloran, was held at Rangiora yesterday. Mr W. > Mcintosh, chairman of the County Council presided. The question cf tho assistance which the Government should contribute towards tho opening of back-blocks roads was discussed. Mr O'Halloran gave a history of the action which had been taken to obtain an equivalent to the "thirds" of land revenue which should have: been set aside from land sales to the credit of the local bodies to assist the roading to the lands disposed of. When the Midland railway was projected large areas had been appropriated, to the cost of the.East and West Coast railway, extending to some thousands of acres. Frequent requests had been mado in respect of the matter, and from the lato Hon. R- J. Seddon a. recognition' of the claims' had been received. In 1910 the district local bodies, and, ratepayers petitioned Parliament, and on September 10th, 1910, the Waste* Land Committee recommended: ." That under the special circumstances of the case would recommend the Government to have an en-' quirv made into the circumstances of the Various local bodies of tho districtcovered by the petition, with a view ot making treasonable grant for roachng thn back portion of the district." Ho pointed out this had not been given effect to, and it was now becoming most urgent that facilities should bo given to-the settlers who had bought the lands which tho Government had handed to the Midland Railway Cornhanded to the Midland Railway Company to construct a work„ of importance to the Dotnim oo - aud who were practically prevented access to their lands as tho local bodies could not give tho reading required. He said it was a paramount necessity that tho County Council should ask that there should be no further delay in holding the enquiry. After discussion it was resolved that the Ashley County Council call a meeting of local bodies interested to urge oiVtho Government to carry out the recommendations of the Waste Lands Committee made iv September 1910, the meeting to be held on the 20th. This was carried, and. it was decided, to communicate with the Minister- of ."Lands as to the date at which _ the enquiry recommended by the "Waste Lands Committee could be held. •