THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1923. ROADING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4565, 18 May 1923, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1923. ROADING.

- .Roading problems in the borough are increasing at such a rate- as to demand immediate and serious- attention. Unfortunately the perfectly erroneous idea prevails thaft the study of roading is solely the function of the local body, whereas,, as a matter of fact, roading concerns every ratepayer who needs must foot the bill for the maintenance which, under the existing conditions, is becoming an increasing burden. It is for the people, as well as for the local authority; to seriously consider the drift, of affairs. Our roads are in a deplorable state, despite all paste expenditure. The traffic demand to day is such as to call for a different class of construction. Hitherto, before the advent of self-propelled vehicles, a metalled surface was reasonably sufficient for the traffic demand on most of our streets-. Now, however,, experience is proving the need for a closely-bound surface. Indeed, it could be claimed that until a few years ago the majority of the roads and streets were more water worn than traffic worn. Nowadays,, however, there comes t,he urgent deman .1 for a new type of construction. The fault with our local administration is that it has endeavoured to make and also maintain the roads out of raltes. In consequence, instead of building roads, dealing with the storm water menace, and completing a water-bound surface, the local authority has had to content itself with a thin—and very thin at that—layer of metal, with no possibility of binding the" surface. And what is the result ? Then we have 'the by-ways or side streets not even attempted, and so bad have -some of these become that it is almost impossible to negotiate them in daylight. while in the dark hours the inhabitants have perforce to remain at home. This is not the worst: the health of the community must suffer, as it is impossible for the sanitary service to be carried out with that punctuality that its importance demands. This sp-rt of folly cannot continue. Of course, we all realise whaa the object has been in starving the roads, but at what cost. ? Some time back a roading loan, was carried, but the money could npt be obtained at the price sanctioned,, and here, again, it is very questionable whether it was wise to postpone the borrowing of the money, even at the advanced price of one per cent, asked for by the lenders. It must be recognised that the longer the delay the greater will be the expense in putting the roads in order. Then, again, the upkeep under the present muddling system is fully more than one per cent, extra, sp that even if money in a few years’ time can be obtained at. 5 % per cent, there must-, be a decided loss, and in the interim the town is held back. The lack of roading is the greatest hindrance to any place, and it has been, and is still being, keenly felt in this (town. It is to be honed that the Mayor, as chairman <>f the works committee, will get down M facts and use his utmost endeavour to get the money authorised for roads, even if an extra half, or even one, per cent, has to be paid. A general recognition of the problems that are now multiplying, the overthrow of a system of public pressure on the local body t,o use money on makeshift construction, and a Widespread determination to encourage and finance

permanent road building, form t,he basis upon which the town may find relief from the problem :>f mulltiplying rate and depreciating loads. We note that when add essing the Council a 1 hir. instaDatii n the Mayor said ‘‘l think it would be wise to secure a nortion of the money authorised for street improvements, provided ijt can be secured on favourable terms, in on'er to assist that progress to which wc all look as the solution of our difficulties.” We sincerely hope that this indicates the policy and intention of the Council lo effect some urgent improvements this year, confident that this action would meet, with the tinq ualified endorsement of the ratepayers.