WORLDS ROADS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 21 November 1930, Page 4

WORLDS ROADS.

CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON HIGHWAYS ENGINEERS GATHER. The World's Road Congress, or to givo it its full otiicial litlo, the Sixth Congress of the Permanent International Association oi' Road Congresses, opened at Washington, District of Columbia, on October Gth, "beneath the massed flags oi' CO lands," which were leprosented by delegates. Air A. Donald Patorson, of British Pavements, Ijtd., C'aristehurch, who wus one of the delegates, has forv.-ardod to "Roadster" some of the Congress papers and reports, from which the items have been extracted:--Hightrays and National Prosperity. The Hon. Henry L. Stlmson. Secretary of State, in extending A woicoms on behalf of the Government o; the United States, said, in part:--"Speaking to this distinguished group Of experts, it is unnecessary for me to emphasise the intimate relation between improved road communication and national prosperity, nor need I point out to the larger social consequences that riow from (he greater accessibility of country to city, nnd city to country, v.-hich follows as a direct result of improved highway?,. In our country wo have scon the improved road and motor vehicle reach out into areas as yet untouched by other forms of transport. We have seen the farmer brought into overy-day communication with the city; new breadth given to the life of the Urban dweller; commerce quickened; now forces brought to play in the daily battle against disease and other foes of organised society. Gradually This medium of transportation haß given a flexibility and mobility to our transportation system, bringing all sections into close touch with one another, and thus providing a basis for better understanding among our people. Because of these things, and because experience has demonstrated that it costs more to go without roads than to havo them, our people have taxed themselves in large amounts for highway development, and are continuing to do bo. "No less important and significant are the international results of closer communication between nations .

The national of one country who travels in another will travel more safely, and will bo more welcome on the highways, if he knows the rules of tho road and understands the signs and signals. Tourism will be materially accelerated if the engineers of one eountry can plan their highway systems so that their roads will connect at the boundaries with those of an adjoining country. The life of tho individual will bo onriched as he finds it possible to get into liis ear With his family and drive into other countries to see for himself places and peoples of whom he baft only heard or r6ad in the past."

The Highway Engineer's Responsibilities. *'ln the early days of road improvement," said Mr Roy D. Ohapin, the presidont of the Congress, "the highway engineer usually limited his iield to road building. To-day ho mußt be a many-sided man. Ho must know the engineering methods of construction and maintenance, ho must understand- as well the economic influences, how the money is td bo found to finance the roads, how and when it shall be spent, and he must administer the highway after its construction . . . Few, if any, branches of the engineering profession have advanced so far in 20 years In your deliberations you will all be concerned with the regulation of highway traffic. Let us see if we cannot bring about common rules of the road for all the world. Let us hope that our findings will help in one of the greatest of humanitarian efforts, the reduction of the highway accidents and the c nsequent saving of human life. This is a particularly opportune time that we have met, for every nation is seeking fields for the productive use of labour. What better way is there to add to the wealth and prosperity of the country, the individual, and tho family than by an immediate and widespread increase in the road-building programme." Tha Agenda. , The agenda of the Congress was prepared bv tho Permanent International Commission and was as follows: First section —Construction and main, tenance. Ist question: Besults obtained by the use of (a) Ceinebt; (b) bricks, or other artificial paving. (Methods emploved for ad construction and maintenance in these materials.) Second question: The most recent methods adopted for the use of tar, bitumen, and asphalt in road construction. Third nucsti^n : The construction of roads in

new countries, such as colonies and undeveloped regions. Second section. Traffic and administration. Fourth question: Ways and means of financing highways: (a) Road construction, (b) maintenance. Fifth question: Highway transport: Correlation and co-ordination with other methods of transport; adaptation to collective (organisations) and individual uses. Sixth question: (1) Trafiie regulation in large cities and their BUburbs; traffic signals; design and layout of roads and adaptation to traffic requirements in built-up areas. (2) Parking and garaging of vehicles. The closing session of the Congress vras held on October 10th. Next Congress. At the meeting of the Permanent ln» temational Comnyssion an invitation to hold the next Congress in Germany ■was extended snd vras accepted ivith acolaiw.

A "working bee" of members of the Pioneer Sports Club put iti ft very busy aEteriloon last Saturday ut the Rolleston Speedways, preparing the course for the Miniature T.T. raco to be held to-morrow week. The track is now ready i'or speed operations. Intending competitors would do well to remember that entries for the efent v.iil close with the secretary at 9.30 this evening.