OPENING THE COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15593, 27 April 1914, Page 9

OPENING THE COUNTRY

VIGOROUS POLICY NEEDED.

PROBLEM OF ROADS.

SPECIAL LOAN . SUGGESTED.

Tut; policy of development by means of public works wliivh the Prime Minister lias stated several times recently is to be pursued by the Government was again refeired to by Mr. Massey, in replying to the toast of his health at the luncheon tendered to him at Warkworth on Saturday afternoon. -Now that the financial difficulty which confronted the Government on taking office was at an end, Mr. Massey said they intended to go in for a forward policy of development and opening up the country by the building of railways, roads and bridges. (Applause.) Ho referred to the importance of better transit facilities for settlers, especially those in such districts as the King Country and the North of Auckland, and he said that the granting of these facilities was the first duty of any Government." Nine out of every ten of the numerous deputations that had recently wailed upon him had done so for the purpose of asking for assistance in regard to roads, If they were going to develop the country as it should be. developed they must give the settlers an opportunity of making the most of their land. (Applause.) The question of what steps should be taken in this nutter was one for Cabinet, but. he was strongly of opinion that the time bad .-(,1110 for raising a special loan, spread over a period of years, for making and improving roads. tApplarse.) The country also needed more population of the right sort, and' all waste places, particularly in the North of Auckland, should be made use of. (Applause.) Private Members' Views. Mr. F. Marnier, M.P., in some remarks on the subject of roads, referred to the state of ;i portion of the roads passed over that day, and said that he almost wished 'they had made the trip a couple of months" later. (Laughter and applause.) He was I certain, however, that the Prime Minister, after what lie had seen that dav, would be J able to imagine what the. roads were like jin midwinter. (Hear, hear.) He referred Ito the bad state of a large number of bridges in his electorate, and said that it was impossible for the local bodies to I renew them. Fie would support the raising of a loan for making main roads. (Applause.) Mr. J.H. Bradney, M.P., said that he was afraid that it would be very difficult to get Parliament to agree to a loan for roads. If private companies had been allowed to make railways the country would have been better 'opened up than at present. .- As. however, a different policy had been established, it was the duty of the Government to pursue a. vigorous policy of railway extension. (Applause.) - j Need for "Assured Finance." 1 In subsequently replying to a deputation I from the Rodney County Council, which spoke of the qui-etion of ""assured finance" Iby granting each county council a set sum 1 for roads, Mr. Massev said that he hoped that the Government would be able to do more for the local bodies next session. The principle of an " assured finance" was all right so far as it went, but a scheme of that kind, in the first place, would involve a classification of the counties according to their needs and capacity for ! helping themselves. No doubt those counties in which development work was pro--1 ceeding or was necessary were entitled to increased subsidies. As' he had previously |.stated, a Local Government Bill would be :introduced during the coming session.