MONDAY, JULY 1, 1907. PUBLIC WORKS IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13463, 1 July 1907, Page 4

MONDAY, JULY 1, 1907. PUBLIC WORKS IN TARANAKI.

In his annual report the President of the Chamber of Commerce remarked that /it will be necessary, when the Public Works Estimates are framed, for a close watch to be kept so that Taranaki may get a fair share of the expenditure for its roads. Following this up it is, we understand, the intention of the Council of the Chamber a little later on to devote a sitting to the subject. In the. past this, body has taken a keen and sympathetic interest in the matter of opening up the country by means of roajds and railways," and', has given its assistance -06 $**iPierous occasions to representations to the Government on behalf of the settlers. The pity is that the results have not been more commensurate with the earnestness shown. A little while ago . Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.H.8., speaking at a meeting in his constituency, denounced the existing method of allocating Public Works votes. TFiidoubtedly it, is wrong, and the -results, ar,e unsatisfactory. Btrt how is a change to be brought about? And what is the use of the Chamber of Commerce passing more resolutions to meet the fate of so many already sent to Wellington? The Chamber is actuated by the very best of motives, but its efforts have in the past been laregly wasted. With a view to trying to give more weight to the suggestions of the Chamber and to concentrate effort we would suggest that a meeting of representatives p,f local governing bodies in 5 the district be convened for the purpose of considering this question of Public Works expenditure. The i Chamber of Commerce might take the initiative,' and invite also the members of Parliament for the district to attend the meeting, which would discuss the relative importance of j the various road and railway works, and, if an agreement could j be arrived at, make recommendations on that point. Our own j opinion, frequently expressed, is that instead of Parliament voting scores of small sums for trifling j works- spread over a great num- j ber of roads, and in many cases never expended and perhaps never meant to be expended, a f ew^of the most important works should be selected and efforts concentrated on those until they are finished. The Chamber of Commerce has expressed a similar view by resolution, but it is all a beating of the air, and we confess that we are beginning to feel discouraged. There would, however, we believe, be a better chance of influencing the expenditure if united action were taken. Air are agreed that - (- there is room for improvement, that the principal works require more money, an.d that many of tne minor votes might be dispensed with for the present, but individual opinions and representations do not carry much weight. It may be argued that the Chamber of Commerce, not being a local

governing body, is not the right body to take the initiative. On the other hand its sphere is not Confined to any particular borough :u county, and the interest it has ilways taken in the matter of roading the back-blocks entitle it to take a lead in a matter affecting the welfare of the whole province. However, we make the suggestion cor what it is worth, feeling that what has been done hitherto was largely waste of time.