RURAL SUB-DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 May 1928, Page 5

RURAL SUB-DIVISION

HALF-CHAIN ROADS. MAY BE AN ADVANTAGE. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. In the course of an informal discussion with members of the Manaia Town Board and Waimate West County Council yesterday morning, at, which the Hon. A. D. McLeod and Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., were also present, the Hon. O. J. Hawken referred to the desirability of - considering the'Question of width of roads- in connection with the cutting up of rural lands. He said that under the present law all county roads were required to be ol a chain width. Lt was his opinion that halfchain. roads would suffice in many cases. ' : Mr. E. Long, chairman of the County Council: “If we in Manaia had half-chain roads we would receive a larger return in grazing fees.” (Laughter.) Mr. Hawken smilingly expressed his doubt whether cattle grazing oil roads was altogether desirable. Continuing, lie said lie thought the necessity for making all roads in sub-divisions one chain wide, together with the cost of metalling, was holding up a good deal of sub-dividing in the country. It was his opinion that, from now. on, there would be a good deal of cutting-up of land into smaller areas, and he could see no reason why by-roads should not be reduced in width. He would like the counties, to discuss the question. Whether the amount for loading should be loaded on,; the land, or some other means devised, was a subject worthy of* their consideration. The Minister indicated that the Government would be pleased to receive the considered views of the counties. Even the Waimate West County, in which the average holding was only about 136 acres—the smallest in New Zealand —could be cut up moie. Mr. Long agreed with the Minister that narrower roads would assist in -

sub-dividing, but lie drew attention to the need for avoiding loading land with more charges than they had to bear at present. , ». Mr. McLeod concurred with, Mr. Hawken in regard to the desirability of narrower roads for rural spb-divisions, and believed with him that an alteration in the law would result in more land-owners cutting, .up their blocks. He said he knew of several owners of blocks of 1000 acres or so who would sub-divide their -holdings into farms if they could raise the £2OOO or necessary for • reading. There was no encouragement at present, either under the Crown land laws or the county laws for large landholders to -subdivide, and he would welcome any move towards effecting an improvement.