MAIN ROAD PROBLEM.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 663, 25 April 1914, Page 3

MAIN ROAD PROBLEM.

DEEPUTATION TO PREMIER

SPECIAL BACKBLOCKS LOAN

This week an influential deputation waited on the Prime Minißter at Auckland in connection with the taking over by the Government of the main arterial roads. The roads chiefly mentioned were the South road to Waikato and the North road to Helenaville.

The Prima Minister, in reply, said that the matter raised was attended by serious difficulties, but he considered it waß ona that had to be faced in the very nsar future. He knew both roads well, having travelled over them on many occasions, and ha agreed they were both in a deplorable state. He pointed out that in the past eighteen months the control of the Great South roaJ had been narrowed down, and that a great part of it was now in the hands of the Manukau and Franklin Counties, the latter body having received a grant of about £IOOO, part of wbiuh was for the road. As to the opposition to the deputation's proposal he assured them that it was greater in the Wellington and Hawka's Bay provinces than it was in the South Island. However, he was satisfied something would have to be done, but if the Government were to assume control more revenue would be required to meet the expenditure. There were details waich would, of course, have to be settled, but it might be possible for the larger County Councils to raise a special loan for the purpose, and have the loan subsidised £ for £. If on the other hand, the Government were going to do the work, then some special revenue would ba necessary, as all the monies belonging to the public fund were required at present for other purposes, th*) claims of the backblocks being unquestionable. He was thinking seriously of asking Parliament for a special backblocks loan. As to the two roads, he was strongly of opinion that something would have to be done, and he was very glad to see that some movement to that end was being made by the representative public men of the district.