ROADING THE BACKBLOCKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 639, 31 January 1914, Page 5

ROADING THE BACKBLOCKS.

MAIN ROAD QUESTION. TOWN AND COUNTRY INTERESTS. At the annual meeting of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce Mr G. Elliott spoke as a farmer on the roading of the backblocks and in particular, the main arterial roads. He thought that the average farmer was of opinion that townspeople had not sufficient sympathy with the requirements of the country. Right or wrong, the fa:fc remained that the Awakino road was this summer in a worse state as a summer road than ever it had been before, in spite of the money spent. Some one was to blame. He thought that the crux of the whole question of Te Kuiti business was the ?tate of the roads. Good roads meant frequent trips into town business would follow naturally. Mr A. E. Robinson replied that while he perfectly agreed that the settlement of the roading question was the key to the business of the district, he was very strongly of opinion that the townspeople were really alive to the fact- He. personally, sought hy every means in his power, not only to do ttie best he could to pces3 for improved communication, but to find out when in the country what the settlers wished done. He pointed out to those he came in contact with that the Chamber of Commerce existed for this purpose and that if settlers w'ould make their requirements known the Chamber would crive assistance. Mr Elliott referred tu the desirability of ascertaining whether a light electric railway was practicable and mentioned the five miles' falls ss well as those at the twenty mile as likely to afford considerable power. Major Lusk said that a light railwbv, however, quickly made, could not give relief before next winter. He pointed out eight years ago that it was just as much the business of the Government to make good roads as to build railways. Mr Elliott moved that a deputation wait upon the County Council with a view to rendering immediate assistance to the backblock settlers on the Te Kuiti-Awokino road and to endeavour that a report should be obtained as to the power available at the five mile and at the twenty mils. Mr Graham, in seconding, spoke of the endeavour to obtain assistance for a similar scheme in the Forty-mile Bush district, and stated that only the claims of rival towships prevented this from being put through by the Government. Reference was made to several other schemes, none of them f?o hope - ful as the Te Kuiti one. Tho motion was carried.