WRETCHED ARTERIAL ROADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 536, 25 January 1913, Page 6

WRETCHED ARTERIAL ROADS.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE ASKED. The wretched condition of the main roads leading to and from the city of Auckland was the subject of a decidedly scathing indictment by Mr C. J. Pa»r (Mayor who acted as spokesman for a deputation from the City Council which brought the grievance under the notice of the Prime Minister (Hon. W F. Massey, on Tuesday. Bis Worship remarked that- he was strongly of opinion that something should be to improve the main roads of the district. He ventured to say that no other centre in Australasia was served with such apologies for artrial thoroughfares as those which provided the means of grass and ingress cor the'eity. No less than 1000 motor cars were registered in Auckland, and he was quite sure that the majority of the owners of theße cars would be prepared to make a contribution towards the cost of the arterial roads if they were assured that the funds would be strictly used for the purpose for which they were intended. The main North road was a standing reproach, and the same remark applied to the main South road, while that portion from Mercer to Huntly was the worse the had even seen any where. The feeling of the community was that something Bhould be done to improve these arterial roads, and the question was what steps the Government was prepared to take in their improvement. The Premier agreed with Mr Parr that the problem was a difficult one. The main North and South roads, he must admit, were absolutely the worst he knew of anywhere, but the trouble was that the funds of the Government were required for more urgent purposes. While at Hamilton he had been approached by a deputation of motor car owners, who had complained of the state of the mam road leading to the town, and he had promised them a subsidy up to. £SOOO. Perhaps the local motorists would be prepared to do something in the same direction, but it would take a g&od many five thousand pounds to put the main roads of the district in proper repair. He would, however, promise them that the Government would grant a £ for £ subsidy on all money raised, and assure them that the money would be spent entirely on the roads.