COUNTRY ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 129, 2 June 1936, Page 4

COUNTRY ROADS

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY (Special to tho "Evening Post.") MASTERTON, This Day. The new Akitlo County Council offices were opened at Pongaroa on Friday afternoon by Mr. J. Robertson, M.P. for Masterlon. The'chairman of the Akitio County Council, Mr. R. B. Robertson, presided. Mr. J. Robertson said that Akitio County had 190 miles of roads in its territory, of which 120 were metalled, leaving 70 miles unmetalled. He hoped that before long this blot would be wiped out, as the Government had turned its attention to those roads. The policy of the Government and the Minister was to give these roads more attention, for the benefit of those who did not have good access to their farms. He advocated improving means of communication to the railways, which would result in a more efficient service, "It's not the miles but the time that is the factor," he said, As regards road development the people could confidently look to the Government to help them out in every way, and they hoped to get the co-operation of all the counties to bring this about. The Government was determined to give the backblacks settlers access to the market and bring them within the social amenities of town life.

When the hall had been opened by Mrs. R. B. Robertson, Mr. J. Robertson unveiled two tablets on either side of the entrance, one a recognition of the services rendered to the county and council by Mr. R. B, Robertson for the past 26 years,. 22 years as chairman.