SMALLER FARMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 July 1928, Page 11

SMALLER FARMS.

'PLEA FOR HALF-CHAIN ROADS

DISCUSSION AT COUNTIES

CONFERENCE

The matter of cutting up farms into smaller areas and allowing half-chain roads, which has been urged so well by Eltham County Council and has been favourably discussed by Taranaki councils, was before the counties’ conference on Thursday, ancl after considerable discussion was withdrawn by the mover, Mr. C. J, Belcher (Eltham), at the suggestion of the chairman, who said the matter was coming up before Parliament at an early date. The remit was as below: (1) That for the (purpose of encouraging smaller areas, the Government consider the question of legalising roads of half, a chain upwards. (2) That where an individual or body of settlers desire to subdivide their holdings, the Government provide the services ol a Public Works engineer free of 'charge, to inspect and advise ore the cheapest, and best methods of subdivision. (3) That the Government provide cheap money under the Loans of. Local Bodies Act for the purchase of lands lor roads, fencing and metalling, etc.’’ Speaking in support of the remit, Mr. Belcher said that what was hinderering the subdivision of farms was the prohibitive cost of forming and metalling roads one chain wide, together with the cost of fencing, surveys, and legal expenses, added to which there was the large amount of land unnecessarily alienated from production. Individual or a number of owners could not face the heavy cost of providing roads one chain wide. “There was no question that in many circumstances, roads htilf-a-chain in width would he ample to meet all traffic requirements. It was suggested that the law should he amended providing authority for roads from half a chain up to one chain wide as the circumstances in, each particular case warranted. Safeguards would be required, providing for subdivision and reading, according to carefully considered plans, approved preferably by the Public Works Department. The Goveminent could very materially assist bv the advice and co-operation of the engineers of the Public Works Departnient granting loans at low rates 01 interest and in other ways encouraging the movement towards smaller areas and intense cultivation.” Some opposition was immediately torthcoming to Mr. Belcher’s proposal. “Mr. \V. W. P. Scarff (Heathcote) said they need not go beyond Wellingjton to observe the iallacy of pioyidmg .'narrow streets. It was almost impossible in the principal steets of the capital city of the Dominion for a tram car and two motor cais to pass. The founders of the city never dreamed that traffic would increase to the present dimensions. No road in country districts should he less than a chain in width. Mr. E. Bowmar (Southland) also opposed the remit. He pointed out that every farmer required the modern aids of telephone and power lines, and how was a. half-chain road going to carry two lines of poles? The president (Mr. E. E. Jull) pointed out that the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) had told the conference that he had in mind a -scheme of closer settlement by the cutting up of family holdings No doubt the” Minister would provide for some ! cheaper method of giving access to such blocks, and it would be as well to wait and see what proposals the Minister of Lands would put forward. Mr. Belcher accepted the president s suggestion, and withdrew his remit.