LOCAL BODIES AND GOOD ROADS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2133, 27 May 1920, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES AND GOOD ROADS.

“There is chaos, in ihe country, because the counties tire so small,” -aid Air H. A. Kevins, at the Fanners’ Conference at Eeilding. It was i went v year-' since (he county uiv..--had been amended in any way. auu tbev were now very oul-of-dalc. It was surprising that Now Zealand bad done nothing to meet Ihe conditions brought about by the increased motor traflic. Other countries had tackled the, problem with some sueoess, but New Zealand had waited, and'was now without a policy. He proposed a tire-lax or a‘horse-pow-er tax, and was sure that motorists would not complain, because better roads would mean a great savior; in tires. AlrKwen Campbell (Wanganui) said il was a fact that the main roads had got beyond the local bullies, anil il vans lime the Government came to their assistance, and increased the subsidy. Such a road as that between Wellington and Wanganui could not be maintained as it shonjd be. Years ago a subsidy of os in the £ might have been sufiieient. but at the present lime it warn totally inadepnate. Mr Allan Robinson (Wanganui) moved: "That the Government he urged to subsidise county councils and road boards to the extent of at; least pound for pound on all special rates for the construction or reconstruction of roads, and that the ordinary subsidy of ns in the £, witn a limit of £2,500. be increased to 10s, without any limit.” This was carried.