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Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1923, Page 2

The Highways Councils under the Main Highways Act are now getting into their stride. 'I he development is an .important one lot the policy in the highways procedure is to give not only good but also hot ter roads. Ihewhi le policy is governed hy the National Highways Board and the District Councils are to he advisory in respect to the various paits of the Dominion in which the Coiineils exercise jill isdiei ion. The development of the policy is significant because it mentis a great improvement ultimately in the genera! state of the principal roads of New Zealand. The point will he raised no doubt as to how iar the new procedure will affect local conditions under local government. There is to ho a measure of reform brought about, ami as time goes on this will he manifested more and more. Immediately it will be more costly, most likely because a comprehensive scheme will la' undertaken, but ultimately the effect should he a saving, and an economic. advantage to the lord bodies, which are in essence the ratepayersThe broad principles of the Main Highways Act arc not to come into force till April next, but in the meantime preparations are being made in advance to conform with the new order of placed lice to he introduced.

Ftrtusii. it may he considered satisfactory that the present Minister of Public AVorks. who is also Minister for Railways, realises that good roads may be mote important than railways for some districts, and that he is quite prepared to close down some of the more utipromi-ing branch railway spei-iu lations of the political past rather than to keep on losing money by running alongside the more convenient highway. New Zealand has invested well over thirty millions in its railways, and they are indispensable to its development, yet too much lias been spent in the p'.-t on small branch lines, nineteen of which cannot pay interest on their capital expenditure, ami some not even the bare working expenses. The old policy has been abandoned. Roads will come first in many areas, and the motor traffic will be obliged to bear its proper share of maintenance. Then the com-

petil.iori of the motor lorry, which is :•:> terrifying to the management of the Nov Zealand Railways, will be lessened, and the public will have a choice of the most efficient and economical method of transport, whether it he by rail or road. The long-promised Motor Hill has not vet made its appearance, lint it is understood that motorists have practically made up their minds on the question of the basis of taxation, and next se.ssion should see the national highway policy placed on a sound financial footing. There should he no more delay, liven now, tic National Highways Hoard has a good deal of preliminary work to get through, and it should be in a position when Parliament meets, to show that its plans are well laid, and that it only needs the nerve-power of linance to start the important task of making flu* main arteries of New Zealand passable for fast traffic in all seasons.

Westland tan afford to take a good deal of close interest in the development o| the highways policy. The railway into South Westland has been promised—but the promise was broken. A branch railway to Kokatniii has been mooted—lint rests there. Both these propositions could be covered by tile highways proposals, if the loading in South Westland, and in such pastor-al-producing territory as Kokatniii, were taken in hand under a definite scheme of improvement. It will be for the Distriet Council to turn some attention to this aspect, and make tions on the matter. In that way the district could derive some real and lasting value from the new order ol things. So with the maintenance ol the main mails of tlie distliet. recently throws on the hands of the local body. I lie Westland County Council was called upon at short notice to maintain tile main highway from Tcreniakan to lloss. 'lbis route is so much in general use that some considerable part ol the ot st should lie borne by the Stale. The Highways Act provides for such ease/ ami to that extent time will he some measure of relief, tln the whole tliciclore it would be as well to regard the new policy with some degree ol satisfaction locally, always watching the interests of the district in respect to loading, with t lose attention.