CONCRETE ON THE ROADS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 April 1917, Page 3

CONCRETE ON THE ROADS.

Full Particulars of a Most Welcome Innovation, as supplied in a Pamphlet issued by Wilson's Portland Cement Co. Auckland.

(Continued from week to week.)

We are a producing country, and always will be. Therefore the better our roads the more profit we get from our produce. It has been proved that a concrete road cuts one-third off distance. That is to say, a farmer living three miles from market on a macadam road would be practically a mile nearer his market if the road was built of concrete. In addition, he would be able to take twice the load. If that doesn't mean money in the farmer's pocket every working day it is very strange i If he required two horses to go to market every day on a macadam road and could do it quicker with one horse on the concrete, he would save the price of that horse, plus the cost of feed, harness and labour. That would be a pretty fair dividend in a year, wouldn't it? We can build these concrete roads just as well as America. We can find the necessary money just as well as she can, too, if we set ourselves to the task. We are more wealthy per head of population thaa is America, and there is plenty of money in every district in New Zealand that would readily be put into four per cent bonds by those using the roads to be improved if a prpoer and economical system of road construction was assured. Not only country districts ; cities, too, can profit by this new road system. Instead of spending large sums annually in patching up dirty, muddy, dusty macadam roads, which are admittedly the cause of the bulk of the sickness prevalent in the cities, they should put down permanent concrete roads that will do away with dust and mud and general discomfit. A lot of money that is now spent on expensive toppings on a concrete foundation could be saved and put into more and more yards of cheap concrete roads. CONCLUSION Just as in America the independent pioneer work of the little Wayne County created widespread interest and resulted in a good roads movement of nationwide importance, sq we trust that; the publication of the information given in this pamphlet will arouse our own people to a realisation of the fact that this country is lagging a long way behind in the race for good roads, and that it is time a determined, systematic move was made by the people with the object of shaking things up. When the j people move in a. body there is generally something doing.

We believe that our people will move when they are shown the direction to n^ove in. When they know, the facts that are presented here they will want to take a hand, in this great new road move men, t ; . Tn.e,y will not he content to, lag behind. New Zealand's history is a. paean of achievement, and we as a people have justly earned a world-wide reputation for energy and bold progressiveness. New Zealand is to-day the most prosperous country in the world, and we can afford anything" th^t ri^akes for progress and increased productivity—lanythiqg that is a forward step in, th.c maro.h of civilisation,

Now is the time to work up a public demand for good roads in this country. Let it not be said that proparity has inclined us to indolence and so paralysed our energies thai \ve allqvy; Qiir/roads to' bo1 a disgrace to. the country and the scorn, qf visitors. Let us take hqld of this matter with strong hands and no uncertain voioe, and ways and means will soon b3 found to enable us to build roads that will ba a credit to us instead of a reproach, i Concluded.]