MATAU DISTRICT ROADING.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1934, Page 6

MATAU DISTRICT ROADING.

The extent to which the Matau reading problem is exercising the minds of the residents of the district is apparent from the large number of letters forwarded to the .correspondence columns of the Daily News during the past few weeks. Apart from the general observations on the subject it is obvious that there is a sharp division of opinion as to the relative urgency of the various reading works, and most of the controversial arguments have centred round the length of three and a-half miles on the saddle between Purangi and Matau. The debate on this point has, unfortunately, not been altogether free from parochialism, but that is beside the point. The order of urgency of metalling should be based on the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number, and that can only be decided by the majority opinion of the residents. The significant question, however, is not “which roads need not be done,” but “Why should not all the roads be done?” The discussion at the Stratford County Council meeting on Saturday showed that the settlers are not in a position to contribute any substantial sum towards the reading cost. And why should they? As a general principle communities of people should be as self supporting as possible. Indeed if there had been more of this spirit of self reliance and less running to the Government for everything New Zealand would be in a better position than she is in to-day. But the history of the Matau district is one of unfulfilled obligations on the part of the Government and heroic perseverance on the part of the settlers under conditions that would have daunted any but the most hardy and patient of settlers. Matau is an outstanding example of a district in which work most suitable for unemployment schemes is crying to be done. Mr. W. H. Skinner put the matter in a nutshell when, in a recently published letter to the Daily News, he asked why such work should be left undone while thousands of pounds were being spent on main highways rounding off comers and turning tolerably good roads into motor speedways. The justice of the claim of country districts for preference in this reading question is irrefutable. The work is a national responsibility which can and ought to be discharged. The reply of the Minister to the representations made is not convincing. The interested parties should show no weakening of front, but should steadily press for what is their right—the metalling of all the principal roads in the Matau including the Purangi Saddle and ultimately the continuation of the Junction Road highway to the Pohokura Saddle.