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Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1924, Page 2

Willi.K oil the subject of better roads it is well to consider what can be done regarding the use of more machinery for road improvement purposes. The experience nil over the World where the good ronils movement bus swiiv. is to nmke more mid more use of machinery for dealing more elfeetively with long stretches of rond. In Westland there is n long length of reading to maintain, and over a very great deal of it traffic is becoming more and more intensive. It is not convenient always to move machinery from point to joint, and in such eases the duplication of road machinery is inevitable where sound economical management is practiced. This is so with plant in more regular Use. Hut the acquirement of plant is a matter of money in the first instance. It is generally impracticable to purchase road machinery to any value out of ordinary income. Special revenue lias to lie found either by way of loan or direct income Jor a special purpose. Where machinery is costly the purchase through loan moneys is the most acceptable, and in the ease of the Westland County the special income by way of motor licenses could be pledged as security. Just as mass production is the cheapest way tor marketable goods, so extensive treatment of the roads per medium of machinery, is the surest wav to obtain the most economical results in maintenance. Having the machinery, the next consideration is its utilisation. The wear and tear of present traffic defies former methods ol maintenance and systems have to be changed to meet the new situation. Tar sealing in some form or other seems to he the most general in application, indicating its practical value. 'ln obtain the right class of results, special machinery is necessary, ami it the roads nic to he effectively maintained in the better condition ail would desire generally, it is imperatively necessary to secure the proper plant. These are all mutters for close investigation as funds accrue ami the loeti body feels impelled to extend its efforts along more modern lines, but that course is inevitable whoie the demand for better roads is intended to lie met at all adequately.

Tm: present Prime Minister of firoat Britain scents to be making it plain from day to day that he has a fine sense of proportion. His outlook upon world matters is largely that of independence, except its he has admitted hi nisei f, he has the fullest respeit for the traditions of his country. That reservation i.s liis sheet author. His attitude is in keeping with the general trend of British statesmanship which has been so directed as never purposed to make the nation appear to lie ridiculous, but dignified always Mr Ramsay MacDonald lias upheld most certainly the dignity of the nation. That has been so in season and out of season, and in many respects pertaining thereto, his colleagues in office have been no less circumspect. T n other words, the Ministry has been making good steadily. The constitution of the present Parliament i.s such that were the Opposition to combine it could by the force of its unity throw- the Labour Government out of office. The very fact that the Opposition does not take that course on any crucial matter, indicates that the components parts of the Opposition have ."V fine sense of tho true position. The Government has suffered soino

minor reverses in the Commons, but not sufficient to determine the into of tho party in power. Wore a serious reverse to occur, and the country lie precipitated into n general election, the trend of Mr Ramsay .MacDonald and his lieutenants in office has been such as to encourage a greater rather than a lesser degree of public support. This i.s so specially iii regard to the foreign policy directed personally bv the Prime Ministei. Mr MacDonald has "on not only the confidence of his own people, but also has the 1 majority of the European nations which count the most, with him. This i.s no mean achievement. Indeed it adds lustre to the prestige of lingland in these most critical times. Tho reborn confidence in the greatest individual force in the Northern Hemisphere counts for the peace of tho world, and after the experience of the' Croat War, that is something of incalculable value to the world as well as the nations involved. All ot which points to the growing popularity of the British Prime Minister whom the people are not likely to jettison readily were an appeal made at the polls. In short, Mr Ramsay MacDonald continues to make good, and is becoming more and more a power in the' world’s con nciils.