King Country Chronicle Saturday, January 10th, 1914 AWAKINO COUNTY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 633, 10 January 1914, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, January 10th, 1914 AWAKINO COUNTY.

The dissatisfaction which is evidently rife in the northern end of the Awakino County with respect to roading matters, conveys some idea of the disabilities consequent upon the gradual settlement of new country. Awakino is the most recently established of the King Country counties now in operation. It embraces practically all back block country, and borders on counties which have been operative for a numbflr of years. Occupying as it does a long strip of territory extending along a coast which is without a good harbour, the difficulties of working the county from any given centre ar« manifestly great, and a judicious subdivision of the county with a view to absorntion by adjoining counties is probably the only satisfactory solution to the problem at present presented. However, there is no reason why the benefits accruing from individual

local government should not be obtained in the meantime, and work carried out in the public interest in various parts of the cuunty without useless friction. The county as it exists has certain powers and facilities for the raising of special loans, which can b8 exercised for the benefit of any part cr all parts of the country without prejudice to any other locality. The local body is merely the the channel through which the wishes of the ratepayers are carried into effect, and by assisting the settlers to finance their reading projects much good can be accomplished. However, the history of all new counties indicates that time is required to get the machinery of government in working order, and it is a matter for serious consideration of the settlers whether the progress of the district can best be promoted by helping to establish a new county, or by joining an old established body which has it 3 machinery in working order under the handa of experienced officials. A strong argument in favour of the setting up of the Awakino County rested in the fact that under the Government's scheme of classification of counties, backblock local bodies would receive special consideration and assistance to finance. The urgent need of the settlers throughout the district is money for the construction of permanent roads. If this money is more readily obtainable by joining with the older counties the obviously commonsense policy is to take the necessary steps to do so. The question at issue can only be decided by the settlerß themselves, and it is to be hoped any policy resolved upon will be carried out in the spirit which should govern public action of any description. With respect to the argument in favour of having the public works operations of the district controlled from Te Kuiti, there 1b much to be urged. Th northern portion of the county is in much closer touch with this centre than with Taranaki, and an outlet to the railway at Te Kuiti is urgently desired by the settlers. It is to be hoped due consideration will be given to the wishes of the settlers by the authorities with a view to allaying discontent, and promoting the best interests of a district which ia deserving of every consideration.