METALLING A ROAD.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17579, 19 March 1929, Page 5

METALLING A ROAD.

WAITAKARURU—KAIAUA. REQUESTS TO MINISTER. MEETING AT NEW BRIGHTON. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) " KAIAUA, March 19. A fully representative meeting oi Waitakaruru and Kaiaua district citizens assembled at the New Brighton Hotel last evening to meet the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public "Works. The chairman. Mr. G. H. Stubbs, introduced the Minister, and Cr. C. \\ • Harris outlined the wants of the settlers, particularly re the MirandaWaitakaruru Road. Mr. Harris stressed the fact that the Public Works Department assistance to settlers would assist a number of farmers who were carting butterfat to the factory, emphasising a good road. This would mean at last the saving of Jd per lb. in cartage. Continuing, Mr. Harris said if the Department would undertake to grant a subsidy of £2 for £l, quite distinct from the automatic allocation, it would bo possible* to get on with the road. “As the position is,” said Mr. Hands, “much as we appreciate your offer, it is impossible lor the County to lift the subsidy owing to the fact that the County has already eimbarked upon a number of loading commitments which prevent it taking advantage of the offers.” Mr. Harris’ plea was -backed up by a number of settlers, as well as Messrs. G. H. Stubbs and E. G. Findlay. Mr. E. Walton, chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council, dealt on tho financial traversing the present situation where the Hauraki County was to find £6OO, W aikato and Frapklin Counties each finding a quota up to £IOOO, and the Government adding a further £IOOO. Mr. Walton, stated that Mr. K. S. Williams, the ex-Minister of Public Works, put £SOO on the estimates for this road. Had the Department been in a position to advance the money at the time all would have been well, but the Hauraki County had already mapped out a programme which took precedence and it could not do the road. The trouble was the County programme was coincident Avith the Government’s, financial year, and therefore works done in January, February and March did not appear in the departmental estimates for the current year. Half one-third of the work done by the Hauraki County did not appear in this season’s schedule. The County was ready and willing to do the work when the Government had financed it. “Hauraki will be off your hands in two or three years, if the Government correctly uses the subsidies,” concluded Mr. Walton. Other settlers backed up the claim with various statements. A Changed Opinion. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, replying, stated that he thought the district had very few settlers, but he now realised the district was capable of wonderful development in the hands of capable settlers. He was most anxious to know the difficulties of the settlers and exactly what they wanted. His policy was one of- catering especially for the back country settlers, since he himself had farmed on a place ten miles from a metalled road, so he knew the difficulties they were suffering under, but he himself and the Department were hound by a system which, unless it- was made more elastic, would make the granting of their demands very hard. He assured them this was by no means the first request he had had for a free grant—(laughter)—but his Department had only a limited amount to spend, and he had been asked to curtail the expenditure, particularly on public buildings, but the present Government had never asked him to economise on roads, especially when they would open up the country for the backblocks’ settlers. (Applause). The Unemployed The Minister referred to the increased exports, saying he was fully convinced that these were due, not to the increased area settled, but to the improved methods of farming. The solution of the unemployment problem lay in providing land where men could settle, and it was necessary for thpse lands to he easy of access, thus employing many men on providing access by road. This, said the Minister, svas the solution of the problem. It was necessary that settlement should follow access, not access follow settlement. (Applause). It was necessary for settlers to help themselves, and if they did so the Government would help them. Unemployment was largely a condition that was unpreventable by any Government or country, but the opening of new roading would solve this. He was in favour rather of opening up roads for the backblocks, and taking men from the main highways to do this than by providing better facilities for those who were already contiguous to a town and already served by good roads. “If my system is carried out I anticipate the provision of work for every able-bodied man in this country who is willing to work.” (Applause). The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Minister, proposed by Mr G. Dean.