UPKEEP OF ARTERIAL ROADS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 155, 26 March 1919, Page 3

UPKEEP OF ARTERIAL ROADS

THE BURDEN ON LOCAL BODIES. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Palmerston North, March 25. 'j'he growing unrest- on the part'of local bodies in tho Manawatu over tho subject of the heavy" and increasing burden imposed on them in tho '.upkeep ot main arterial roads wns vpifled at a meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening. In accordance with notice of motion previously given. Mr. E. il. Crabb moved :- "That the time had arrived when the Government ' should take over tho main arterial roads, with n view to making permanent- nigh ways- The motion was seconded by Mr W. I l '. Durward. Speaking to his motion, Mr. Crabb said that i the question of providing, .permanent- roads for carrying motor traffic was one .oi the greatest problems before local bodies in the Dominion. Tho construction of such .roads was nearly, if not quite, outside the financial capacities of local bodies. The question was a national (.ne. Many arterial roads were travelled five or six times as much by tho people-outside fno district, which was saddled with their maintenance than by the ratepayers 'actually living in the district. 1 headoption of some more permanent method of road construction was also absolutely necessary. There were main roads in the Domimou over which it was almost impossible to travel motor vehicles, lho speaker favoured 'tar-sealed concrete roads, as it was well known that macadamised roads would not stand up to motor traffic. The Government should control these'highways—not. necessarily fake, them over. The motion'found general favour'' with the mooting, but members, in supporting it. indicated that by- doing ro they were not committing the chamber, 'to any particular form of road construction. ' All were unanimous in affirming tho principle of tho Government coining to the assistance of the local bodies and relieving them of nn expenditure which in many oases they could no longer bw. Referring to'concrete roads. M<\ A. Seifert pointed out that the drawback was f.th'at there, was'.no' known method of repa.irini? them. ■ Tho'Wti.il- outlay would nlso almost preclude their adoption on a lame scale. It.-wonß for instance, at the'esfci'Mted co=t c-f £:MQ pr mil", cost Ai.OtROOn /to put. a road through to Auckland, and :thii was only ooe road: Ultimately the motion was carriwl, and it. was "'so 'Icoidcrf to urire all local bodies thronehont fife Dominion to <■-- ouernte in Hi», matter of nil arterial roads-in a-permanent condition