The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 11th, 1924. THE AGE OF MACHINERY.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPT. 11th, 1924. THE AGE OF MACHINERY.

The Westland County Council on Tuesday went a step further in the matter of machinery to deal with road traffic. Encouraged by the receipt of licensing fees for motor traffic, it was decided to provide the overseer with a motor car in order that lie might give greater attention to the roads, saving time in travelling, and so being able to do more in the allotted hours of duty. The stone crushing plant is to ibe added to by a special engine to drive tb?- Plant- in )jeu of the practice

heretofore of utilising the road roller tor that purpose. This latter arrangement will |ei init stone crushing to prucced mure regularly, and the metal being delivered on to the roads ian he rolled promptly thus ensuring each section each day being finished oil effectively. Trallic generally, and particularly motor traffic, will he able to appreciate this practical attention to the mads. It was put of the oiiginid s heme when the road roller was | iin hased, hut the motorists objected to the special taxation imposed by the local body, with the result, that a year has been lost, and the improved roads have been delayed lor that period. The south district was not overlooked in tlie matter of improved roads, also, and the local body is providing a horse and dray to he left in the careful hands of tile capable resident- roadman at Inter-Wanganui who has the lull confidence of the Council. The modesty of the Hiding members limited them to a horse and dray, hut it would appear in the generous moot! ol members sitting round the table that had something mine ambitious been asked for, the Council would have sanctioned it. There was the awakening to the sense of the position, namely, that the modern day trallic calls for special attention. and the Council is out to do what

it can in reason t-> cope with it. The condition of the roads generally-in the distriit is very satisfactory. 'I here are some instances where, due to the special hum of trallic employed on the roads, a few sections arc in rathei illrepair. But it is apparent the Council is wishful to help, if the u-ers of ilio. roads in their part will help also. I lie licensing fee is an aid to better roads, entitling these who pay to expi-t better roads. With an inflow of revenue sin’ll as is now being derived, the local hotly will he in a better pisition to stand up to its obligations. But. il is able to meet lhc.se leipl i' enielll s only with the help of the special income and if all liable would piy readily there would he less delay in complying with necessities. The net inn ol the Council mi Tuesday was a further earnest of the members to do what they can to meet the necessities of trallic. On the whole the duty is being discharged very fairly, and the ratepayers at- least will he glad to see that some portion of the burden is removed from their shoulders and being met partly by payments from the direct users of the. loads.