BUSH SETTLEMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 24 July 1894, Page 3

BUSH SETTLEMENT.

(to the editor.) Sir,—Your leader in the Opunake Times of the 10th inst is of a spirited nature, and deserves the careful perusal of all country settlers, to say nothing of the thanks due to you from them in calling the attention of the Government to the sad plight numerous bush settlers are placed in through a screw being loose somewhere iu the conditions under which the settlei'3 took up laud, and, I presume, in all prospective one's also. People are induced by apparently cheap land to take up bush sections on the strength of tbe land laws, which lands, it is stated, will be roaded by the Government. I know of several instances where large blocks of land have been taken up by settlers under that understanding, but up to the present day they have not had the slightest help from the Government. On the contrary, they have so largely borrowed under " The Loans to Local Bodies Act," simply to make a fair outlet for their property, that they are now compelled to rate themselves to the large extent of 4s in the pound. No wonder they arc struggling for an existence (not living). People who live in towns have very little idea what a country settler has to put up with, and as the towns so much depend on the country, I think they ought to do more in assisting those settlers in bringing influence t) bear upon those in power to alter the great burden the country settlers have to bear. Don't flatter yourself that Opunake is the only district where the settlers arc shut up oil the winter within the bounds of their own farms. No, sir, I f;ar that there are too many through the bush in the district of Taranaki iu the same plight. Now. sir, comes the question: Who is to blame for this unfortunate position ? Undoubtedly the Government—past and present—but primarily the northern members of Parliament. Somehow or other they are a'l trying to pull in different directions, and have done so for years. They do not seem to see that what will benefit Auckland and other northern districts will also benefit Taranaki and so on. Somehow or another it strikes me that they cannot get into their heads that they are there to make laws for the whole colony, and not like a parish meeting. What has caused the South Island to have*such an affluence of good roads and railways over that of the North ? (Roadless North !) Simply that the Southern members have combined where their interests are concerned, and give a block vote. Not so with those of the North : one pulls this way, another that way, and so it goes on.- The effect is seen all over the country—a blind man could almost see it; at any rate, he would soou lose himself and team in the large and long lakes of mud and holes. Not till our Northern members of Parliament pull together and give a block vote where their interests arc concerned, will they get justice—no, not till then-! I fear that I have already taken up too much of your valuable space, but before closing I must congratulate you, Mr Editor, and the inhabitants of your fast improving town and district in possessing such a valuable adjunct to your town as the Opunake Times, which will, I trust, continue to prosper with your very fertile district.—l am, &c, Pro Bono Publico. Waitara, 17th July, 1894.