King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 1912 WANTED: A ROADS POLICY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 527, 18 December 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 1912 WANTED: A ROADS POLICY.

The lack of a definite roading policy suitable to the needs of settlement in a rapidly growing district such sb the King Country, has been referred to with almost monotonous persistency in these columns, and further emphasis is given to the matter by the negotiations between the Government and County Council concerning the Te Kuiti-Mokau road. For a number of years past triers has been an annual agitation on the part of the settlers interested with a view to having the metalling of the road expedited. Officials have been denounced, and the Government censured in unmeasured terms for the leisurely manner in which the work has proceeded each year, and all without apparent effect. Last year, in compliance with strong representations by settlers, the County Council was induced to undertake the expenditure of the grant for the metalling of the road, but an exceptionally bad season, and the fact that the Government had already lot a contract for some of the work the season's programme was about the smallest on record. Fortunately the council had authorities issued by the department for considerable expenditure, and of this amount there is still a substantial sum in hand. The department has now suggested that the council should take over the whole of the available grant for the road, and undertake all future responsibility for maintenance, and the council has promptly and emphatically declined. There can be little doubt as to the wisdom of trie council's action wh«Mi it is realised what an immense expenditure is necessary in keeping an unmetalled main thoroughfare open for traffic during the winter. A modest estimate of the amount spent on the road during the past ten years is £30,000, and when it is remembored that only about ten miles of metalling has been accomplished during that period some idea is obtained of the amount which has been sank in the mud in temporary work. The dual control of the work by the council and department has been referred to as objectionable, but it is difficult to discern how the Bvstem can bo altered. Improvements can doubtless be effected with a view to obviating delay, but there is every reason why Government officials should supervise and approve of work which is carried out with Government money. Assuming that the council had to undertake the expenditure of this years grant plans and specifications would have to be prepared by the county engineer, and forwarded for approval to Wellington. The necessary approval could not be obtained until after the holidays towards the end of January. The advertising of the contracts would occupy another fortnight, and after the acceptance of a tender by the council there would be some delay before a contractor could got his plant on the ground to commence the work. Thus, the earliest date at which the council could have the work begun would be the end of February, leaving, under favourable circumstances, the months of March and April for metalling. Everything considered their is ample room for an improvement in conditions, and for the adoption of a definite and effective roading policy, in place of perpetuating the old system of spending a portion of the grant in metalling, and the balance in mud.