STATE ROAD POLICY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9847, 28 October 1924, Page 6

STATE ROAD POLICY

RECORD EXPENDITURE LAST YEAR.

WHY NORTH ISLAND IS BEING

FAVORED

WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. In the course of his Public Works Statement, tho Hon. J. G. Coates says: ‘.‘During tho financial year ciiclect' 31st March, 1924, the expenditure on roads and bridges by the Department has constituted another record. Naturally, on account of the claims of settlement and tho undeveloped state:, of the North Island as compared with tiie South Island, the expenditure has been much larger in tho former. Even if present expenditure continued in the same proportions it will still bo many years before the contritions as regards facilities for transport in the North Island can compare with those already prevailing in tho South Island. “The progress made has, on the whole, been satisfactory. Many of the most important gaps in the arterial roads "have been linked up, or improved to such an extent that early linking up is probable. Given similar progress for another year or two there is every prospect of there being roads passable all the year round to practically every settlement of. importance in the Dominion. “In connection with access to the Waipu district which originally was to have been by means of a railway, investigations showed that the amount of business to be done was iniadequate to provide working-expenses and interest on the cost of a- railway. Protracted negotiations with the local people took place, and finally it was decided to discontinue the construction of the railway and to utilise the railway formation so far as constructed, and, for the rest of the distance,to improve the road to good gradesj and alignment, and to surface tins whole with bitumen-sealed macadam| This work is in hand. . | “Special attention has again beenj given, particularly on those road3| which are directly under the super-* vision of the. Department, to the obtaining of grading, alignment-, and curvature suitable to modern conditions. Every precaution has also been taken to secure the thorough drainage of the foundations of all roads on which surfacing is proposed, and also, after surfacing, the systematic rolling of the! material. Adequate provision is also being made for maintenance, an essential feature, and without which the results of capital expenditure soon disappear. “In the past there has been 1 some complaint by local authorities that the appropriations do not become available sufficiently early to take fu.l advantage of the most suitable season for carrying out works. lam endeavoring to improve, this position by authorising certain amounts for expenditure by the local authorities as soon as the estimates are framed. By go doing, certain urgent works can- he . put in liarJd several months earlier than if these works had to await the passing of the estimates befoie the works could ho authorised. “The system of framing tne alloea- , tior.s in accordance with certain factors such as area, population, estimates of completion of roads, values, j undeveloped lands, etc., has again been adopted. There has been- natch satisfaction expressed at the adoption of the principle by which the local , -authorities and the officers of the Der j partment mutually confer as to the , interests of the districts . concerned. , By this means more cordial relations have been established, and by mutual j agreement certain works that would j under ordinary circumstances have , been included in the estimates have given place to others having superior j claims for inclusion. . . j “In ecu sequence of the diminished clemadd for sections in the backbloeks, ! the expenditure in connection witn, the roading under land-for-settlc- j -ynts yote for the current year has • been somewhat less tiiaii iislb?..- ! “It is -satisfactory that during the . past vear there has been less occasion 1 to deal with unemployment than during recent- yeai’3, and consequently j the claims that works should be start- j od to relieve the labor-market have , been even fewer than during the pre-, vioiis year. . » “There are now in various parts throughout the Dominion lengthy seetions of roads for which engineering surveys have been made, and which arc ready for work when sufficient funds become available, or when labor conditions indicate that they could with advantage be put in hand.