The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. ROADS AND BOA DING.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. ROADS AND BOA DING.

T„k local bodies in anticipation ol extra money to be available Irom the petrol tax now being collected, are preparing lists of roads and streets to participate in the coining division nl funds The petrol tax is being provided from the motor trathe, which is a growing quantity. ’the petrol tax, '■ appears, goes in the first instance to the Highways Board, which lots control of the main highways, but. it is manifest that other roads than declared highways are as much Used as the main highways with general motor trallic. In particular, the subsidiary roads branching off the main highways. are used specially by heavy traffic, and this class of traffic is a sovre toll on local body funds. Probably because of this the Highways Board has asked for a list of wlmt is described as secondary highways, and has indicated that the funds available from the new tax will enable the Board to make a contribution towards the maintenance of such roads, equal to about an advance of fifty per cent on the present road mileage of main high wavs. In this district a \eiy strong case can be made out for s|K*cial assistance. All the heavy traffic comes off branch roads where the sawmills are situated, and it is not fair that the cost of maintenance should full solely on the ratepayers. The produce from the mills is ill the mail taken to the nearest railway siding and liecomes a feeder tor freight for the national railways. What applies to the County, applies in a lesser degree to the Borough—the heavy traffic passes over streets other than those regarded as the main highway, to reach the railway line. In that instance, al so, there is n volume of wear and tear which should not fall solely on the local revenue. Both the County Conn oil and Borough Council have lodged applications for consideration in connection with the enlarged reading scheme possible from petrol taxation, and in each instance there is every justification for the action. It is w<that the position is being watched by the local bodies, and care taken to place the needs of the two districts before the authorities. There is nc doubt as to the extra cost for main tcnancc involved by motor traffic. The outlay is that connection is now very constant, for no road can long he let - , unattended where motoring is in vogue. The old order of attending to a road once or twice a year has had ti. give place to very constant attention, if the road is to ho kept in passable order. In view of this it is hut equitable that motoring should hear la heavier burden, and that the local bodies should have a .share of the extra income.