The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY JULY 6th, 1923. GOOD ROADS AND BETTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY JULY 6th, 1923. GOOD ROADS AND BETTER.

!kk rri,i (i L roads movement so tar as Westland i- concerned, was advanced a further st-nee o.i Tuesday, when the ■ i.iin' Council resolved to procure a ton ton [letro!-driven road roller. This addition to the reading machinery already in hand, or to arrive, will enable the Council to undertake its work ou inure modern methods. TTie Council, however, did not reach its final decision without a discussion and a division. The minority section while not opposing the princple of good reads was perturbed in the main by the linancinl aspect.—the ability of the Council to negotiate the monetary liability without further burdening the ratepayers. The Southern representatives went rather further in their opposition, and expressed the opinion that because portions of the south could or would not. receive immediate benefit from ilit* operation of the plant, then to acquire the machinery was not acceptable. The objections raised, however, ire not well borne out by the facts. The Chairman's report covered the financial aspect to some extent, for as flic Council has resolved to enforce n licensing tax on motors and heavy traffic bv waggons, there will le considerable extra income Irotn the source, and the inference is that this additional money could be applied specifically for the improvement of the roads. There is the fact, also, thiut the Government has lately thrown upon Hie Council the onus of maintaining upwards of of) miles of main roads, and this liability should in equity carry a subsidy similar to that derived by other local bodies for road maintenance purposes. The machinery will lx* available for use cm the main ns well ns the district roads, and for the use of th«> plant there, could fairly he a charge against the subsidy to lx* receivtsl. Finally, the Council is anticipating n considerable payment on account of royalties, in respect both to the past and the future, and as t-imlier traffic passes over the roads, the extra money derived will be a help not only towards the purchase of the plant, but also in regard t.o ii> maintenance. Under those three heads, therefore, the burden of the cost ol the machinery and its running, should he more thnii met, without adding to the burden of the rates. Indeed, as the Chairman was at pains to point out., the general improvement to the better made roads would be such that frequent nation in repairs would grow less and less, and actually there should be, at tio distant date, some relief in the rating levy. As to the use of tho plant, it is manifest it cannot bo used in all parts of this extensive country at once. The chief centres will call for first attention, but by tho improved roads more quickly and substantially brought about the plant will be moveable fairly readily. In that way the major portion of the roadod district will he covered in due course. It depends on the eeleritv with which the methods of operations are carried out. Storage bins for broken metal can lie used to economic advantage, and these will lx? required in different localities. The experience elsewhere leaves no doubt about the efficient and more economical work performed by road machinery properly handled. On that account the action of the Council is to be commended, and the ratepayers congratulated on tho practical step taken. The movement is one in keeping with the times. The district is certain to grow more rapidly in importance with the improved railway transit offering, and the volume of road traffic will grew in sympathy with that progress. The Council is therefore moving betimes. At the same time, those contributing directly to the cost of road maintenance by the special taxation through

the licensing of vehicles, will feel that in return, they will receive a direct return in the good roads, and hotter, which will result from the operations of the loading machinery.