DAMAGE TO ROADS.

Shannon News, 25 May 1923, Page 4

DAMAGE TO ROADS.

DISCUSSED BY N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION. “ That the injustice to land owners in having to find the money to pay for the upkeep of the roads, to which most of the damage is caused by through traffic and not by farmers, be discussed by the Conference,” was a remit from the Marton branch discussed at the inter-provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers Union yesterday.

Mr. Howie (Marton) said the bulk of the damage was done by heavy lorries, which were carrying goods through in competition with the railways, at the expense of the ratepayei’s.

Mr. Carson (Wellington) advocated some scheme whereby the users of the roads should be taxed for their upkeep, the proceeds to go to the county council. Mr. F. W. Hubbard (Tiritea) said the man on the land had to pay for the whole of the upkeep of the main roads, while he used them very little. It was a very difficult question and members of Parliament had been at it a long time. The chairman: Yes, and they’re dodging all over the place from it. Mr. W. B. Matheson said they did not seem to be getting anywhere. He moved as an amendment: “ That the subsidies to locjal bodies increase in proportion to the amount of rates they collect.” It seemed to him that in places ‘where the through traffic was exceptionally heavy, the whole of the public of the country should contribute to the upkeep of the roads. Mr. Howie said the Minister was already appointing officers to carry out the National Highways scheme. Mr. Hubbard seconded the amendment.

Mr. G. McGregor said if the Government wished to help, let it cut down the railway freights by half. At length the amendment was put and lost. Mr. Hughan moved another amendment: " That the Government be requested to adjust the tyre tax so as nearly as possible to make the motor vehicles pay for the roads they used and that local bodies be subsidised in proportion to estimated damage to their roads.”

Several speakers maintained that cars were taxed quite high enough now. It would be asking the Government to increase their own taxation. Eventually the amendment was lost and the remit carried in its orog'inal form.