NEED OF GOOD ROADS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 10

NEED OF GOOD ROADS.

TAX ON MOTOR-CARS SUGGESTED,

(By Teleeraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, February 28. The importance of good roads in tho development of the country was discussed by Mr. George Elliot in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. He advocated the assumption by the Government of the responsibility of maintaining all arterial roads, and suggested a special tax on motor-cars as a contribution towards the cost of tho work. He said no one who has seen the roads north and south of Auckland in winter, or even in summer, could fairly describe them as good. In his opinion the difficulty would not be solved "unless tho Government undertook to maintain all the main or arterial Toads of the Dominion, leaving the secondary roads to the care of local authorities, upon whom it conic l levy a special rate to cover , the cost of maintaining tho principal thoroughfares. The work should be in the control of a special department, which could be properly equipped with modern machinery and road-making tools, which were beyond tho means of most , local bodies. Thus the cost of construction would bo considerably reduced. The speaker also thought a special tax should be imposed on motor-cars and motor-cycles in accordance with the horse-power development. The revenue from that .source should be utilised for main road construction and maintenance. He understood tho imposition of sucji a tax would not bo opposed by motorists provided the money collected was expended in the direction he suggested. Mr. Elliot added that ho had previously contended that prison labour should be employed in maintaining roads, but it could bo effectively used only if tho Government undertook tho work. Treo-planting and afforestation were useful . employments for prisoners, but road-making and maintenance were better, and would do infinitely more for tho development of tlio country. Some Temarks on this subject were also made by Mr. P. G. Ewngton. Ho said that settlers in the north had suffered great ordeals owing, to the lack of roads with admirable valour. Moro roads were wanted for tlie extension of trade and for communication when tlio country was called to defend itself. Good roads were an essential, factor in the development of the lourist traffic, for pleasure-seekers demanded thoroughfares over which they could travel pleasantly ami safely. Money was ail essential poniuisite. and he eontended that if the affairs of the country were, properly conducted there -would be plenty of money nvnilablo on satisfactory terms for high roads and railroads,