King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, MAR. 5, 1913 SOUTHERN MEMBERS' VISIT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 547, 5 March 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, MAR. 5, 1913 SOUTHERN MEMBERS' VISIT.

The movement being promoted by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of inducing a number of South Island members of Parliament to pay a visit to the King Country ia in every sens" worthy of the heartiest support of all who have the interests of the district at heart. An impression had gained ground anions southerners that; the grievances thin portion of the Dominion is suH'ering from largely exist in the fertile imaginations of those who wi:l> to exploit the country for their own benefit. The fact that reference to the native land questioil among parliamentarians who are not pornoii;,!l.v acquainted with the subject merely provoker a smile, and that the amount annually provided for roads in the district is made the subject of adverse criticism by southerners iH sufficient inidication that a more intimate acquaintance with the real conditions is necessary. A burn inn question in the south is the irrigation of the lands of Central Otago, and the shrewd brains of the southern business men conceived the idea of bringing a party of northern mombern through the district, and giving ocular demonstration of what irrigation meant to the district, and indirectly to the ])o----min'on. The fact that the southern tnen considered the northerners only had to witness the results in order to be convinced, and to assist the southern members in obtaining what was demanded from the Government is a tribute to the northerners. Admitted that any single-minded individual would grant the necessity for irrigation, there still remains the question as to whether irrigation is of suflicient national importance to make the northerner honestly believe he should place the irrigation of the smith before the roading of the north, or the settling of the native land ques- » tion. While freely eoi. ceding the right of southerners to claim assistance for irrigation we have no hesitation in asserting that at least as insistent; a claim, and probably a much more important one, can ho made in respect to the other matters referred to. We can also do justico to the liberal mindedness of the southern members, and give them tho opportunity of acquiring a first hand knowledge of our requirements in order to make fair and reasonable comparison between the respective demands oi North and South. The expense in connection with the visit readily be raised in the district. By properly organising, and appealing to the various local bodies interested there is no doubt the cost of entertaining tho party and taking them through the district would be mot. Ihere is no doubt the money would be well spent.