The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1929. ROAD MAINTENANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1929. ROAD MAINTENANCE.

Tub run in highways scheme has proved a very happy inspiration. It was sponsored by the lit. Hon J. G. Coates, when Minister for Public Works, and it is due no doubt, to his faith in the scheme that it lias been of the advantage to the country it lias. Last year upwards of £700,000 was spent on the main highways of the Dominion, and it would be remarkable if so great a' sum had not resulted in material improvements. The greater expenditure all along has been in the North Island. Last year £187,000 were spent on that part of New Zealand, while m the South Island only £125,000. There is a serious difference, and that fact has been prominent from the first introduction of the scheme. The fact that greater advantage has been taken of the highways scheme in the North Island has led to a good deal of agitation for separate Boards of Control. But under the selieme in force a separation would lie of little avail. It could give no more money for the reason that the major expenditure depends on local contributions. In other words, if local bodies find more money for legitimate works, and the Board approves, the highways subsidy will lie forthcoming. The North Island local bodies lmvo been finding more local money and earning the subsidy. One special reason for that was that the roads of Lho North were more backward than the South, where there was not the call for the same enterprise. Under the petrol tax, a large sum of money is being derived—greater than was estimated. Although the full year lias not matured yet, the excess with about a month ago is £IOO.OOO above the estimate. It has been suggested on behalf of the Automobile Associations that the revenue in excess of the estimated amount should he expended on urgent road works without requiring the local bodies to provide subsidies. That, of course would ho a complete departure from the scheme, blit the Government could keep within the scheme and yet help materially by giving more liberal subsidies, and also by extending the highways, that is, increasing the number of secondary highways. As it is, money under the highways scheme benefits only stipulated roads, the inference being that by assisting in the maintenance ol such roads the local bodies will have more money available for the by-roads. But motor traffic now spreads far and wide, and the more the highways are improved, the greater is the use of the by-roads, the feeders of the main highways. The sole charge for the by-roads falls on the local bodies, lienee the suggestion to increase the secondary highways, as approved by-roads arc now described. This is a matter which is sure to come up at the conference about to be called whore at some discussion will arise as to a reduction of heavy traffic fees. These fees are for the entire benefit of the local bodies, and they will not he ready to give up that source of income without a quid pro quo. The burden upon local bodies of keeping up the by-roads foi heavy traffic is not a light one, for the same vehicles which speed loaded along

highways of a superior .standard, show no greater mercy for the by-roads, and the local bodies have to meet the wear and tear. The heavy traffic fees in that respect are helpful, and the local bodies will not part with that income unless something is offered in exchange. it is suggested that something could he offered out of the petrol tax which owing to the increasing consumption will not decrease. Road maintenance is now such an essential part of the country’s welfare, and so useful a contributor to all round prosperity, that it will pay to have good roads, and to ensure good roads more money must he found by the users to supplement the means of ordinary upkeep for which the general rates are rgarded as the basic source of income.