LIFE IN THE BACKBLOCKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3219, 16 May 1911, Page 4

LIFE IN THE BACKBLOCKS.

A MINISTER’S FLATTERY,

The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. McKenzie), in speaking recently in the Taranaki district, said he recognised that they had a very fine district, and that the land was capable of much greater improvement. In fact, he supposed they thought they were the hub of the country and the garden of New Zealand, but he liked to see that kind of pride, and believed it had a good effect. He did not think, however, that they were making the best use of their land. Of course, the country was new, and had not been settled sufficiently long for them to obtain the best results. One of their main troubles was that it had been bush country, and they had not arrived at that stage yet when they could make the best use of it. They had greater prosperity _ ahead. They complained about their means of communication. He wished they had been with him when travelling through some parts of New Zealand. They would then think they were living in a little heaven. He sympathised with the back-block settlers, but here they lmd first-class land, and were on their way to the accumulation of wealth. When he saw a factory at every corner, a schoolhouse ev;ery few miles, and good roads, he conjcluded that he was in a prosperous district.