FACILITIES FOR SETTLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1930, Page 10

FACILITIES FOR SETTLERS.

The visit this week of representatives of the Taranaki County Council, together with Mr. C. A. jVilkinson, ALP., and the Public Works Department’s engineer to the Carrington Road district served to bring under notice matters of considerable importance. This large area, lying on the outer slopes of Mount Egmont and about its attendant ranges, has remained backward in comparison with the highly, developed area adjoining the coast, where, of course, there has been no lack of means of access. As to the difficulties encountered in reaching some of the remoter parts of tiie district during the tour of inspection the report ,of the journey was illuminating. It was not possible to proceed direct alor the Carrington Road itself, but between two points that are only five miles apart the party had to make a journey-, of 30 miles. In ceitain parts of the territory visited the Public Works Department is already doing very valuable service in the formation, metalling and improvemeiit of the roads. This undertaking has been included in the schedule of relief works, and it is entirely suitable to the class of labour available, for the formation of the country is such (hat work can be carried on at all times except when heavy rain is actually falling. T’pere are good, reasons why the projects on which the settlers ask for expenditure in the near future should be put in hand. - Although there is only a small portion of the area to be served by the completed Carrington Road and the various connecting roads which has not yet been taken up, the district certainly has a claim upon a Government that is aiixious to promote settlement. The purpose of settlement is production, and there are thousands of acres under the shadow of Mount Egmont tbat can be made very highly productive if the settlers are given adequate facilities fol* the conveyance of their produce and their requirements. The quality of this country is amply demonstrated wherever it has been brought to anything like full productivity, and there can be no question but that the whole area is capable of adding very materially to Taranaki’s output of dairy produce, and therefore to the wealth of the Dominion. But with production costs as high as they are it cannot be expected that settlers should break in new country unless they are as favourably situated with legard to the handling of their produce as are those who are established in more adequately roaded localities. The under-developed lands of this part of Taranaki afford scope for one department of the Government-S .settlement activities, and the promotion of in creased production, which is equivalent to more settlement, in this area would oive rapid and-profitable .results.