A ROAD PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 173, 17 April 1920, Page 8

A ROAD PROBLEM

TOLL-GATE OR SUBSIDIES ?

HEAVY TRAFFIC AND NO MONEY

The Wangnnui and Rnngitikci counties are faced with a problem in road maintenance for the main north road between tlia (owns of Wanganui and Bulls, n length of only twenty-eight miles of road. It is what is properly known as a "main arterial road," and it carries much more than its fair share of traffic even fo." such a road. Time was when the' bulk of the goods and passenger traffic went bv the more circuitous route bv Tail, but in these days of fast motor transit a great deal of both passenger and goods traffic is going by the shorter road route. The result of this has been that while it is no doubt a good thing for the district, it has made for the local bodies concerned a-problem in road maintenance for which tinder present conditions there does not seem to bo a solution. The road has been worn out, and to build a road which will carry the traffic without enormous costs for maintenance will cost a sum of money which the finances of the local bodies are quite unable to meet. A big capital expenditure will be necessary, and a smaller sum in annual expenditure, for the construction of a tar sealed or concrete Toad—probably the former. The local bodies are nnxious to give their people- a decent road service, but without an additional income they see no wa.v of doing it. AIV these things and many more were submitted to the new Minister of Publie Works (Mr. Coates) by a deputation from tins two counties yesterday morning. , The deputation was introduced by Mr. W. Glenn, M.P., and the ■ pniicijMl speakers were Mr. A. ffobinson, chairman of the Wanganni county, and Mr. Letllbridge, ■chairman of Eaugitikei county. They pointed out to the Minister that it was not possible to maintain this road in a proper condition on their present income, and, as ways out of their difficulties they mada two'-sugges-tion to the Minister. First of all, they asked for permission to erect a toll gate on the road. They pointed out that this would be an equitable way of collecting ,*. considerable sum in revenue,' although they all said that thev did not like tolls on highways. But the ..traffic on the road was enormous, .averaging some U0 motor' ■vehicles per day, some of thorn big wagons with loads of five tons. This toll-gate would provide for- their special case, and give them.sufficient revenue— about .£3OOO per year—to keep the road. But they asked the Minister in preference for an increased Government subsidy, at the rate of 10s. in the pound on ■all rates collected. They pointed out that the present system of distributing money by Govelrnuient subsidies was inequitable, and they asked the Minister to bring down legislation of general application. The Minister, in reply, said that in regard to the toll-gate proposal he would reopen tho whole matter, and go into it. anew. , More than that he was unable to promise at once. As to the bipiger matter affecting the Government policy in regard to subsidies, while lie would not otherwise be averse to giving .his own opinions on the matter, the subject was one for consideration by the Government, and would have to be announced as a matter of Government policy. He would say, however, that the Department were preparing schemes in connection with the main arterial roads, and these schemes were being drafted at the instigation of the Minis : ter. These scheme. 1 ) would probably bo the basis of future legislation, for the Government must have data before embarking on new schemes of local body finance. He agreed tbat the main arterial roads question was one that would have to be faced by the Government, and solved if possible. He did not agree, however, that it would be a full solution of the business to give a subsidy of 10s. in the pound to all counties. It would mean in tho case of some big and wealthy counties that they would be able to reduc? rates, and in the case of some backblocks counties, 'having territory in a state of development, it would.mean that they would be in a position worse than their present stale.. Sonic method of classification of counties would' be necessary. The proposals of the Counties' Conference were being considered, and he believed that thev would be valuable to the Government. But he said ffiiat the determination of which were to be considered main roads would have to bo very carefully made before the Government could embark on any amended scheme of finance, for it would bo necessary for the Government to know what t'hei.r financial obligations were likely to be. - _^