THE HUTT ROAD.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 14, 7 October 1927, Page 8

THE HUTT ROAD.

The question of the* widening 'of the Ilutt Road is one that is of considerable importance to: local residents, particularly those who are motorists. In connection with this proposed widening, and to cover the cost of extending the roads to Upper Hutt, and in other directions, the motorist is now to be called upon to pay an addition to his Hutt road tax which will bring that up to £2 a year. It seems that already the unfortunate owner has a fair burden to carry in the way of direct taxation quite apart from the share he has to contribute to the customs for the car and its accessories. . It is therefore with pleasure that v/e have learned that a poll of motorists will be taken before the increase becomes operative, so that those who have to pay the fee are given ap opportunity of expressing their opinion on the matter. It is Hot often that such a course as is proposed is actually carried out, but on this occasion, it seems that those most affected by the increase are about to receive the consideration to which they are entitled. Even when the increase is put into force, the Bill does not provide that the road should be widened, but only that it should be extended. There is a great difference here. It is one thing to increase a fee for an entirely unnecessary purpose such as widening the road, but an entirely different thing to increase it for a good and sufficient reason such as is provided in the extension scheme. In the first case, the extra tax would be entire waste, as the present width has been found ample for the amount of traffic to be carried over it, while, as was pointed pi^t by Mr. T. M. Wilford in the Houseman additional width would encourage speeding. On the other hand,-the. extension of the road to complete the track to Upper Hutt is urgently needed, for some parts, especially through the Gorge, are in a very bad condition, and are particularly noticeable after the run from Wellington on the bitumen. It seems, however, that the imposition of an equal tax is somewhat unfair, seeing that the average motorist does not use the road so much as do service cars, motor buses and carriers' wagons. It appears that the vehicles mentioned not only form a fair percentage of the total traffic, but in general are heavier than private cars. One would naturally imagine that they are therefore responsible for more wear and tear on the road than are private cars, particularly those of this class which are run only at the week-ends. Taking into consideration the weight, frequency of use, of heavier vehicles, it appears that they should pay a proportionally greater increase^ than the private cars. -