TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3142, 23 July 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1881.

The up-country districts in the other Island are by no means satisfied with the proposals of the Government with regard to the provision for the construction and maintenance of district roads. Major Atkinson's proposal embraces the establishment of what is to be called the " Roads Construction Board," which, consisting of the Minister of Public Works and three members elected by the House of Representatives, would be a General Government department for tbe issue of small loans to local bodies. In the case of a county desiring to construct a main road, this money-lending board would advance £3 for every £l raised by the local body, and a special rate would have to be struck to pay off onequarter of the loan in ten years without interest. In the case of a Road Board desiring to construct a district road or a bridge, the Board would have to strike a special rate that would pay off the whole of the loan, with 3 per cent, per annum, in thirteen and a half years. Thus, says the Clutha Leader, it will be seen that in the estimation of the Colonial Treasurer the construction of the main roads is a matter of far greater importance to the country than is the construction of district roads. This may be accounted for from the fact that Major Atkinson is a North Island man. He is fully acquainted with and has justly estimated the wants ot the North, but he evidently is totally ignorant of, and has entirely misjudged the wants of the South Island. Our Southern contemporary then indulges in a flight of fancy concerning the social condition and wants of the North Island settlers. It says that in the North a large majority of the inhabitants have been apathetic, mere hangers on of the Government, trusting to Native wars for their support, and have done very little in the way of developing the resources of the country. They have but ievr roads excepting what were required for mill- '

taty and defence purposes, and these were constructed to a large extent out of funds drawn from the inhabitants of the South. Now matters have changed with them ; the native wars are at an end, aud their former means of subsistence is gone. They must now turn their attention to agriculture and other industries, and in order to carry or. these, main roado are essential. As settlement extends district roads will also become necessary, but, iv the meantime, main roads are most pressing, and consequently the Treasurer has provided for these with what some will regard as lavish liberality. In the South Island the position of matters is exactly the converse. Through the wisdom arjd foresight exercised by the late Provincial Governments many of our main reals were substantially formed and meiailed years ago. Indeed not a few of these have apparently served their day and generation. Since the inauguration of the railway system they are but very little used. What is now wanted here is the construction of roads leading | to railway stations, schools, churches, stores, etc., roads in every day use by the inhabitants. Many of these road lines are now virtually impassable, and so long as they are allowed to remain in this condition the settlement of the country is greatly retarded. And what provision does Major Atkinson make for our wants in this respect P He extends to the settlers power to rate themselves for general rates up to two shillings in the pound ; he also provides for raising special rates and will allow them to borrow money to carry out specific works--, but every penny of this money must be repaid with iuterest. This is all the assistance the Treasurer proposes to afford in the matter of the construction of district roads. Had he reversed the order of things—had he given the three to one subsidy for district roads, and the borrowing and the rating powers for main roads, then the scheme would not have been so objectionable, but as it is it is entirely unsuited to the present position and requirements of the Middle Island. It may be said _ way out of the difficulty would Le to merge the Road Boards in the Counties; that then the County Council would have control of the district roads, and would secure for their construction the three to one subsidy from the roads construction board. Had the subsidy been upon rates then such a course might have been adopted, but the subsidy is only to be given for specific works on main roads. The Treasurer very clearly ..distinguishes between main and district roads, and makes separate provision for each. Although the charge of a district road were transferred from a Road Board to a County Council this would not effect the Government scheme relating to that road. It would still remain entitled only to the provision made for district roads.