The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1911. BACK-BLOCK SETTLERS.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 12, 26 May 1911, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1911. BACK-BLOCK SETTLERS.

THE settlers in the back-blocks are a long-suffering people, and not the least of their hardships is caused by the want of decent roads. Oftentimes through want of careful management, money that is voted for roads is not wisely spent, and it would appear as if in some cases, at least, the money does not reach the roads at all. We are led to make these remarks by having brought under our notice the fact that whilst £BSO were voted for roads in the immediate vicinity of Mount Kakapuka by the last session of Parliament —and only a fraction of this amount has been spent — the settlers are now informed in response to their requests that very necessary repairs should be effected, that no funds are available. We regret to have to make these remarks, as our desire is to be absolutely impartial, and we believe that in many respects the Government has tried .to assist the settlers of Pokuru. This is right, as those who take up land under such conditions as these men deserve every consideration and help that can be given. The sections in this district are gridironed by Native lands, which in nearly every case remain in their native state. This makes farming almost impossible, as, however much may be done to improve the holdings, unless a man has capital enough to make his section rabbit-proof by wirenetting it all round, he has very little chance of getting anything like decent results, no matter how hard he may work. Under these circumstances, it is only right that as far as possible every assistance should be given to the bona-fide settler, and he at least should have a decent road to his land, and should be able to get to his market town without undue difficulty; and further, if money has been voted for certain work, it ought to be done without delay, as in spite of good prices, many of our struggling settlers are feeling the pinch just now very severely. The long continued drought has caused them heavy loss ; they have used up all their available capital in buying and putting in seed that never came up, and v/e are certain that some of them will find considerable difficulty in getting through the winter. Under these circumstances we think it particularly hard, if money that has been voted for roads, and would provide work for these T men who need it so badly, should not be spent. The roads need the expenditure, that goes without saying, and the men need the work to tide them over what we are afraid will be a very severe winter—at least, for some of them.