“PROSPERITY FOLLOWS GOOD ROADS.”

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1923, Page 2

“PROSPERITY FOLLOWS GOOD ROADS.”

FIRM AMERICAN BELIEF. WELLINGTON, Aug. 29. “In the course of my recent travels in the United States,” said Air V. il. Norwood, when interviewed by a Dominion reporter yesterday, “I came in , contact with many engineers interested—A, in the reading problem, and found that there were still wide differences of opinion as to which class of road was ; tiio best for tiie ever increasing traffic. I should say, however, that on the whole the best formation lor arter- . in* roads is the concrete road, with a bituminous covering or surface. There are all kinds of roads in the United States, and most of them are good. The authorities arc still experimenting, but the latest big arterial road out of New York has a concrete base with bituminous surface, and is a very fine speeding way indeed. You must understand when 1 mention the good standard of-, the arterial roads, that they carry 50 t-j 103-fold more traffic, than any of the New Zealand roads.

“There are now a million cars registered in the State of California, and the population is under three millions. As the averge family in that State numbers four, it means that there is , in the aggregate, more than one ear ,L per family. “What struck me particularly was the narrowness of the roads. 1 travelled long distances in rural' districts on surfaced roads 12ft. in width. Actually the roadway was three or four times that width, but the running sur- , face was as narrow ns I have stated. > Fourteen-foot roads are quite common, • and 16ft. reads connect important cities. An 18ft. road is regarded as ample for all general purpose. Of course, as the roads near a town or a city the area surfacing widens out until m'the suburbs the surfacing extends the full width of the road.” Referring to travel signs and directions, Mr Norwood said that the system of finger-posts instituted by tho automobile associations ill New Zea- . land was quite equal to anything lie had seen in the United States. “Good roads mean national progress. That is the opinion held by everyone in tho. States. It is qs deeply-rooted in the mind of the man who has no car at all, as in that of the keenest motorist. ; That prosperity follows good roads to all districts is their firm belief, and such is* their faith in that gospel that one district will help another to get good roads, though not directly benefiting and even one State will help another in the matter of an arterial road, so that all may benefit. Good roads would make a place 30 miles out a suburb of 'Wellington, and give it all the facilities of a city. 1 am fully convinced that a system ot good roads through New Zealand would add to our national prosperity.