MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1974, 8 May 1919, Page 1

MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS.

REPRESENTATIONS TO THE Government.

The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce is again moving in the matter of advocating that the Government should control the main arterial roads of the Dominion, and lias forwarded the following circular letter to the various local bodies throughout New Zealand:

“That the time has arrived when the Government should control the main arterial roads of the Domini- j on, with a view to the formation of I permanent highways.’' E “That all local bodies be urged E to co-operate in the work of putting s the main arterial roads in such per- | nuincnt condition in respect to the | surface and width as to carry with j safety the rapidly increasing num- | her of power-driven vehicles.” j In submitting the above resolutions, we desire also to submit the j following, reasons which led us to adopt it: — . j The Urgency of the Problem. — There is no local body that has not fell the need of renewing their j | roads to provide for the ever in- i jj creasing motor traffic. The continu- , ous increase in the weight of the if

vehicle used and loads carried helps to aggravate the problem. The Change in the Onus.—The continuous growth of motor traffic has altered the nature of the problem. With Lav.se traction the amount of through trafiie was infinitesimal. Now, in many instances, 50 to 75 per cent, of the trafiie comes from outside the local bodies' jurisdiction, and the problem lias become national, and not local.

Over-straining iffi Finance. - -T!m providing of permanent roads oi such a nature ns to carry motor inti lie is beyond the power of most

meal b..d : -w, ; 'i .1 •'! bo undcrtakcn on similar lines to railway eons true I ion. A tyre tax, eve suggest, would enable the Government to undertake tlie provision of sueh permanent roads, and the local bod-

ies could then be called upon to maintain them as at present. Fixing of Arterial Koads and Allocation. —In order to prevent the continuous bickering which would accompany any attempt to allocate such moneys to each local body, this Chamber considers it would be better if a non-political Board of Engineers, etc., were appointed to decide on arterial roads, and supervise construction of same, work to be carried out by the local bodies or by special gangs of trained workmen, as might be found most economical.

In conclusion, wo are not seeking to relieve local bodies and landowners of their customary burden of upkeep of roads, but to provide a means whereby they may be enabled to cope with a problem which at present is beyond their means. The matter is of such urgency and importance that we trust your Council will give it their earnest consideration, and support our effort by forwarding favourable resolutions to this Chamber at the earliest date, when they will be placed before Ministers of the Crown and all Members of Parliament.