BACK-COUNTRY SETTLERS

Southland Times, Issue 23307, 17 September 1937, Page 7

BACK-COUNTRY SETTLERS

GOVERNMENT SEEKS IMPROVEMENTS DESIRE TO SECURE AID OF COUNTIES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 16. The Government expects full cooperation from county councils in its efforts to improve the lot of settlers in remote districts according to a statement made in an interview this evening by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage). It was only by co-operation with the central Government, Mr Savage added, that local government could play the important part it had to play in the affairs of the country. “As far as we are concerned politics do not enter into the matter at all,” the Prime Minister continued. “I notice that a member of one county council has been accusing us of extravagance simply because we have given financial assistance. That sort of thing is not going to help anyone.” Through the Public Works Department, Mr Savage said, the Government was preparing large scale plans for the improvement of farmers’ access roads and for the prevention of river erosion and flooding. At a meeting of Cabinet only a few minutes previously the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) had reported, on a five-year plan for county roading which was being drawn up by his engineers in co-operation with county councils. Very shortly they expected to have a comprehensive picture of the roading requirements of rural areas and everything would be done to see that those requirements were met as soon as possible. , , “I know that some of the counties have their financial troubles,” the Prime Minister continued, “but those 'will not be allowed to stand in the way. There are counties, for instance, which nave difficulty because of the fact that they contain large areas of unprofitable native lands. That position will be met by the Government as well. We are ready to do everything withm our power to see that the needs of the country districts are properly served, but we must have the 'co-operation or county councils. If any back-blocks farmer finds himself still in the mud in a few months’ time and with no prospect of getting out of it then alll can say is that he will not be able to blame the Government.”