The Dominion WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1920. A NATIONAL PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 57, 1 December 1920, Page 6

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1920. A NATIONAL PROBLEM

In his annual Statement to Parliament last session, tho Minister of Public "Works foreshadowed legislation with the aid of which it was hoped "to improve and maintain the main roads of tho Dominion in accordance with modem transport requirements." It was intended, the Minister added, to employ the most up-to-date methods in connection with toad-making and maintenance—the work would he carried out on a large scale in accordance with a definite programme and under the control of a well-organised staff. The promised legislation did not make its appearance last session, but presumably is only Meantime, the question of main road contfrol is discussed incidentally,,but at some length, in the report of the Royal Commission on the Helcnsvillc to Hamilton Main Road, a summary of which appeared in Tub Dominion yesterday. This iB a very unsatisfactory way of dealing with a big national question. The commission, of course, cannot bo blamed for discussing the general question of road control—indeed, this question' is bound to arise in connection with any extensiyc roadimprovement project. But it seems to be the right course to postpone the consideration _of sucn projects in detail until a'_ settled roading policy has been laid down. Taking a really practical course, the Government, instead of appointing' a commission to report _on the improvement of a particular road, would have asked the same commission or another to report from tho national standpoint on the financial and other aspects of a roading policy. The commission itself recognises by implication that a wrong procedure was adopted. It was asked amongst other things to indicate, what legislation, if any, was necessary or expedient in relation to the Helensville-Hamiltoji Main Road. The reply is\that no definite answer tothis question can be given unlcss_ it' is first known what is the policy of the Government in respect to the main roads of the Dominion, and "this is unknown to us." The total effect is to emphasise the necessity of laying clown without delay such a policy of main road construction and maintenance as was promised in this year's Public Works Statement.

The commission found itself In the somewhat extraordinary posi-

tion of having to deal with the broad question of policy in order that it might .'report in reasonably explicit terms on the detail questions actually referred to it. It suggests that a modification of tho Victorian reading system might be applied not to the Dominion as a whole, hut in provincial districts. The Victorian system, as it is briefly described by the commission.

. . . consists of placing the control of all the main country roads iu Victoria under the jurisdiction of a special board, known as- the "Country Roads Board." This board consists of three persons appointed by the Governor-in-Council. One of the! members was nominated by the local bodies und the other two by the Government, These three persons not only racommend which roads shall bo declared to be main roads, but they also arrange for the construction A>y local bodies of siuch roads whon so declared, and the local bodies subsequently maintain them. Or, if the Governor-in-Council so decides, the board itself may construct and maintain the road. Tho cost of construction is found by the Government in tho first place, but one-half of tho declared cost is recoverable by tho Government from the local bodies as a loan, repayable at a certain percentage over a long series of years. Halt' tho cost of maintenance is paid by the Government from a. special fund provided for the purpose. This fund consists of certain fines and fees, includine a tax on motor-cars and vehicles. The cost of construction and maintenance is apportioned by the Country Roads Board from time to time among the. ilocal bodies whose districts are benefited by these main roads.''

One Main Roads Board for the whole Dominion, tho commission thinks, would be unworkable. In Victoria, it observes, such a scheme works well, because all the main roads in that State to a Wry great extent converge on one centre— conditions in this country aro quite different. To meet these different conditions it recommends that a Main loads Boaird should be set up in each provincial district. These are questions that will bear further consideration. While it is obvious that under any efficient system of main road control some delegation of authority would be necessary, there are apparent advantages of co-ot-dination and economy to be obtained by setting up a central authority to direct and systematise operations as a whole. Then again, it is by no means established that a dual system of main road construction and maintenance by local bodies and by a hoard or hoards would work well in this country. Presumably a special i'oading authority, provided with an efficient staff and an up-to-date mechanical equipment, would be able to carry out the work better and more economically than local bodies, and the logical thing in the circumstances would be to give it complete and undivided control. There are important questions open also in regard to finance. In view of tho ever-extending range of modern motor and the difficulties of equitable adjustment entailed, an elaborate system of local contributions on a differential basis seems to offer doubtful advantages. An idea of the magnitude of the 'problem of raising the arterial roads of the Dominion to the standard demanded by modern transport requirements is conveyed in the commission's estimate thab the construction and improvement of 120 miles of road between Helcnsville and Hamilton (including 12 miles of concrete road) _ would entail an annual charge, in interest, sinking fund, and' maintenance, of about £45,000, =tnd in its further observation that the total length of main roads in the Dominion "no doubt amounts to many thousands of miles." The somewhat staggering dimensions of the problem, however, onl.y emphasise the necessity of attacking it methodically and with as little delay as possible. A great improvement in the present state of arterial roads is essential, if industries arc to expand' freely and prosperously, and although actual prog'res on these lines must be governed by the amount of money available, the policy that will best meet the case certainly ought to be determined as soon as possible.