The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 18th, 1924. BETTER ROADS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 18th, 1924. BETTER ROADS.

I No lloilbt tllO U'«.!..ol'l'a of tho West- * land County Council will feed more [ comfortable now that the motor ve- ( hide licensing hy-law lias been held I to be good by the judgment of tho I Full Court. A bench of Judges have 1 considered the by-law in all its bear--1 ings and have held it to be legal. It has taken some time to reach that haven of safety, but the result will make the period of suspense worth while. The local Itody may now proceed with every confidence with the enforcement of the by-law which is designed to supply more revenue in order that the public may have better roads. The ultimate goal is therefore of great importance to all users of the roads. The Council has tho satisfaction now of not being forced to restrict heavy motor traffic over live months of the year, which action would have a serious effect on industry. Tho ratepayers are relieved of a heavy cost in the unavailing effort to maintain the roads for traffic with limited funds. The users who derive pleasure or profit (or both) from the use of the roads nnd who have contributed more or less substantially to the wear and tear of the rands, hove now the recognised onus of contributing to the cost of upkeep and may use their voice in requiring better attention to the roads in proportion to the revenue raised under the by-law. The point of tho judgment just given so far as the general users of tho roads are concerned, is not that the local body will have a larger income, but that more money will be available for better roads. This fact seems to have been, apd is still in many gases, overlooked by the

users of the roads. They have resented and opposed the local body’s action to raise more money for better roads. Y'et the same folk, both individually ami '.through their various organisations, opposed the by-law and caused its validity to l>o tested, as au alternative to payment. The action was (very short-sighted from every point of view, and places the owners of motor vehicles in a very false position, when in one breath they complain about the state of the roads or bridges, and in the next they raise their voice against the efforts of the local hotly to lind money from the users of the roads for maintaining same in a better condition. In <Oll- - this aspect of tile matter it is noticeable the opposition has brought about a rather boomerang result on that section of motorists which spoke tor the tourist motorist in particular. Under the local body proposal it was probable from what was said by the members at the Council table, that the holiday maker would not he troubled seriously. As the Full Court in its judgment has amended the by-law to make the position more definite, the touring motorist will he liable for a

small, hut none the less reasonable contribution to the local revenue to assist in giving tile payee, in common with other useis, better roads for their holiday tiips. The wisdom of the dceisi 011 of the pull Court in this respect is evident. The decision as a whole will have a far-reaching ctfoct establishing the rights of local bodies to collect the fees for the purpose indicated. The County Council lias done a good service for the ratepayers at large, and incidentally for motorists, who, when paying their Ices, will loci that they will have every light to claim front the local body lietler conditioned roads. The Council’s solicitors in this matter have certainly handled the case for the Westland County most effectively and satislactorilv.