The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1931. THE HIGHWAYS SYSTEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1931. THE HIGHWAYS SYSTEM.

Shortly, before Parliament closed, a special Committee of the House brought down a report to supplement to some extent the report of Industries and Commerce regarding references to the question of the petiol tax. The Commmittee report proposed in effect to considerably revise the highways system, and instead of applying it solely to main and secondaiy roads, •to make the application of the funds ; more general. It was proposed no change the fund from “highways”, to j “’Pond, and bridge,” thereby permfi*ting the revenue to be available for I allocation to all classes of roads. Behind the mind of the Committee appeared the desire to do something for both country and town in respect to derating, so that more subsidies woufd be available for all classes of roads and thereby relieve local rates, Already it will be remembered from « reference made this week in this column, that the Government with the sanction of Parliament is allocating a sum from the highways funds to assist derating by a special rate subsidy. It would appear not unlikely therefore that something material, may be done eventually to undermine the highways system as now established. We do not know that in the long run this will be to the national advantage. Because expediency to-day prompts special support to back block settlers by endeavouring to reduce rates by percentages' with the aid of highways funds, it does’ not follow that will he necessary ror recurring periods. If local bodies are going to receive special aid in this way, it is not certain that general expenditure will be materially reduced, and unless the local administration is curtailed, the ultimate plight of the ratepayer will not be benefitted. Butt it does seem important nationally that the highways system as we have come to know it, should be maintained as effectively as possible. As a consequence of its administration there has been a great improvement in the arterial roads under highways control. The standard of maintenance has been raised definitely. Better and more permanent bridges have been built, and the loads made safer by widening, - regiading, and fencing. The main roadsf>ara..the essential to public traffic and trade, and other have to take .the. place of railways, io which we, M essary to have good roads to ensure quick, safe and cheaper transpoit, The Highways Board has set a standard and built up, a system , that has brought many blessings to , the road user, and of course the local ratepayer has participated in those benefits. The Board ha s its staff and system of organisation doing such good work, that it would be a mistake indeed to see it wastefully curtailed by any “roads and bridges” scheme which would have to be general and not particular in. its operations. It would be better to concentrate on the main roads of the Dominion, and as they are brought up t 0 the standard set, to expand the operations of the Board more and more to district roads. A commencement in that direction has been made by earmarking money ior secondary roads, but that sum is going to he limited and definitely curtailed if the highways funds 1 are to be raided year by year for special purposes. Mr Coates who promulgated the highways scheme when previously in office, gave the Dominion a most useful system of machinery foT improving the arterial roads, and until that task is completed, there should not be any departure from the well proved methods now in force. The district roads generally of New Zealand are on the whole in very fair order, and unless the traffic is constant and swiftly moving, the need for costly upkeep does not exist. It would appear wo he well to leave well alone.