ROADING EXPENDITURE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 18, 31 May 1939, Page 3

ROADING EXPENDITURE

means ultimate saving WHAKATANE.OPOTIKI ROUTE An article on main highways expenditure published in the official bulletin Of the Automobile AssociaAuckland, makes interesting "reading when considered in relation , to the proposed coastal highway between Whakatane and Opotiki. The writer savs that in his opinion a pound saved is a. pound earned, and so discreet expenditure on our roads is money earned. When discussing the new German Autostrades with Dr Todt, chief engineer of all the German roads, he says he asked him if he considered thai those expensive highways were really a paying proposition. Dr Tod 1 - Implied that they most certainly were if one took the long view. Dr Todt pointed out that not only do they shorten the distance by many miles, but they give motorists an easier grade and a smooth surface on which "to travel at high speeds with perfect safety. His Government, in estimating the cost of these roads ? took into consideration the reduction of the cost per mile of the motor vehiclc. in its transport between two given points, as being an .economic saving to the coun.trj' as a whole. NEARER HOME Coming nearer, home, says the writer, Ihe distance between Kaiwaka and Waipu is 22% miles. The Brynder- *>■ "wyn deviation, which has recentlv t been completed has reduced the distance by 7 1 /4 miles or over 33% per cent; in addition it is easier driving and a better surface. "We can reasonably estimate the average present-day cost of operating a motor vehiclc as fivepence per mile allowing for both heavy commercial traffic and the light passenger car. and as the djstance covered on this road Is 7% mijlcs less than the old road, it therefore represents aj saving * of roughly 3s to every motor vehicle. As there are approximately 350 daily using the deviation,, or 127,750 vehicles per annum, it involves a saving of £19102 10s, and if we allow the small sum of £838 saving to the High ways Board in reduced maintenance costs for the shorter distance, \vihave n, total* annua] saving of £20,000. If the roacl costs £70,000 to-con-struct. it will be paid for in. 3% year*. surelj r a, great economic saving and

the greater the number of motor vehicles using the road the greater in saving. In quoting the above figures it is not to say that I believe in reckless spending on our roads, but wherever it can be shown that it -•would be an economic saving, I believe that it is a benefit to the whol? * of the country,", he concludes. OPOTIKI ROAD ' The length or the present road vin Waimana to Opotiki is 3834 miles and the road via "VVaimii is 28 miles. Estimates of the length of the proposed new road vary slightly, but it would probably not be greater than miles. Taking the Bulletin figures of fivepenee a mile operating costs the reduction of 18 miles would mean a saving of 7s Gd to every motor vehicle. The writer is not aware of the ( average number of cars travelling each day between Opotiki and Whaiatane. including through traffic to from Gisborne, so it is difficult estimate the saving through the expenditure on the new road, but it is certain that it would be consider, able. There is, of course, some opposition to the new road from Waimana residents who fear isolation if it is constructed and the bulk of the traffic /SPftjted away from their district, but there seems to be really no justification, for such fears. After all the Waimana, road is there and it is a main highway, aud is HQ reason to believe that it would be allowed to deteriorate in finality. The fact that the railhead is at Taneatiia, < and is likely to remain there for a long time yet, is the best guarantee t>f this. As for Opotiki fears that the road would prejudice the chances of an extension of the railway, such a be--4 Jief. if it is realJv held, may be vFR. : missed as selfish. Opotiki and Vvhaiatanc are not rival city states in ancient Greece or Italy of the Middle Ages, but arc country towns in New Zealand. If >t can be shown that the ' , railway is a better proposition econ--1 omi'cally then, the railway should go through: if the road will make foi cheaper and more efficient transport, then the roncl should be built, and possibly it can be shown that each Is complementary to the other..