ARTERIAL ROADS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 71, 17 December 1920, Page 6

ARTERIAL ROADS

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES

BILL BEING PREPARED

Arterial roads wore mentioned by. the Prime Minister and the Minister •or Public "Works in the course of their replies to a Central Progress League deputation yesterday. Mr. Mossey said that part of the policy of the Government! w-as the making of a mam road, suitable for motor traffic, from the Bay of Islands to Wellington. The South Island had such a, road from Blenheim to Invarcargill. The Government wished also to have similar arterial roads running east and west. It luid been suggested that arterial roads should be built as a war memorial, but he was not attracted by The Hon. J. G. Coates: Don't drivo over the soldiers' bodies. . Mr. Massey added that legislation, dealing with roads would bo required next session, and he believed in would bo possible to do something before the House met. Portions of the roads between Wellington and Auckland were impassable lor motor traffic. He hoped that these, roads would bo taken in hand. They, were Government roads, and the Government ought \b attend to them, itwould not be necessary, if money and material wore available, to wait »r,«!J islation. If money was to be obtained by some forms of motor tax, ho would Vr.'Coates said that he had outlined a soheme for the provision and luainKonanoe of arterial roads, but owing to pressure of work, the law; d»««man had been unablo to prepare the Bill during the recent session, The law draftsman had not yet been able to teio the work in band. The Bill would be prepared as soon as possible, however, and it would then be placed in die hands of local bodies and automobile associations n order that it might be fully discussed. His plan inoluded the creation of a special fund, the diversion of certain rates to this fund, the levying possibly of. a tyre tax. He was not proposing.tb wso loans for this work. The special fund would be used, and the expenditure .would be upon definite arterial roads, in accordance with a comprehensive plan.