Highways Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1922, Page 4

Highways Conference.

WELLINGTON, May 15

A serious effort to reach a solution of the main roads problem is phmiicd by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. .J. (!. Coates) in connexion With the forthcomihg highways conference, which is to meet in Wellington on dune 7th. |,ocM biHlies, the automobile associations, and the good roads association have boon invited to send representatives to this conference and they will he asked to assist the Minister in laying down the principles upon which an effective scheme for the provision and maintenance of good arterial highways can be based.

The Minister stilted to-day, in answer to a question on the subject, that lie did not intend to ask the conference to consider the Highways Rill that was circulated last year. This Rill liad not met with the approval of the counties, and lie was quite prepared to put forward alternative proposals. He would ask the conference to tackle the problem right from the beginning, and see if the (loveVnmeiit. the local bodies, and the other interested parties could not reach agreement oh the essential points. They Were all agreed now, that the Dominion needed more and hotter arterial roads, and that present methods of control Ami of allocating public money were not giving the results that were required. ‘T shall suggest that the conference go.into committee and try to get down to fundamental principles, we probably can adjust the details on a basis that will be satisfactory to most of the local authroitios. Tile information that is in niy possession regarding the treatment of tlu» roads problem in other countries, and the methods that are in operation here, will be at the disposal of Hie conference. I do not propose to f lace a liill before the conference, although 1 Will have proposals for fcohsidei alien.”

.Mi Coates added that lie hoped to receive assistance from the representatives of the motrists. Tlfc people who owned motor vehicles had a direct inte est in the roads problem. The demand for improved methods of road construction and ninilitenanee was due chiefly to the development of motor traffic, and a substantial part of the cost ol' the improved roads would have to be found by the iiioiolists. The revenue from the tyre tax was accumulating now as the nucleus of the main road fund.