HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 March 1928, Page 5

HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS.

BACK COUNTRY LAND PROBLEM. SETTLERS’ HEART-BREAKING TASK. The position of the Eltham County Council and the Main Highways Board regarding the allocation of roads as secondary highways was discussed at a conference between the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. 0. J. Hawken, M.P. for Eginont, and the council on Saturday, says the “Argus.” After 'the chairman (Mr C J. DBelcher) had explained the position with reference to the Mountain Road, Mr Hawken said that apparently it had been placed near the end of the list by •he Department. He pointed out that about one third of the roads had yet to be allotted, and the Mountain Road liau been kept back in 'order that the position might be' sized up. Twentysix hundred miles had been declared, and the balance was being subjected to closer scrutiny.

The chairman said that there were 300 miles to be allotted as secondary highways and Eltham was entitled to 26, but had been given ISA miles. Mr Hawken said that no doubt, other parts of the group were getting a benefit. Things were in a bit of a mess, he admitted, but the board was straightening out the difficulties in this district. There was no provision for the position of counties wheli had tarsealed roads when the original Act was framed, and were entitled to some consideration. He would be pleased to support their claims in the district. He had considered that in this .matter their quota would have been allotted on a sort of quid pro quo basis in straightening ouf the 'old difficulty. The whole object of the Act. was to make money available for improving the roads'; at least, that was the policy being carried out. Or. A. MeWilliam said it was generally considered that the back country ridings would have received good consideration. It seemed to he the idea that unless a. road linked up wi’h a highways, it would be out of the allocation. He did not agree with that policy, considering that all these roads acted as feeders from outside. In his opinion, it would be a fair thing to get more back country roads included in the allocation of secondary highways. Mr Hawken said that no doubt, other districts were similarly placed. The difficulty was for that district to pay its share of loan and the upkeep. Omoana was one of the most difficult districts that he knew. It was (liffiieult to collect the money in some districts, largely because so many of the farms had been abandoned. 'He was not sure that some application should not be made—in fact, it was passed last year, and the grants should be used for these districts which were in a bad position. In some districts it was quite impossible to take up a loer as there was the difficulty of providing for the money. He specially mentioned the Omoana.

Cl-. MeWilliam, in reply, said that Omoana's difficulties were not desperate, but it. was heavy going all the time.