OUR ROADS.-HOW ARE THEY TO BE MADE?

Southland Times, Issue 590, 12 November 1866, Page 3

OUR ROADS. -HOW ARE THEY TO BE MADE?

(TO THB EDITO3 01? THE SOTTTHTAJTD TIITE3. Sib, — The attempt to solve this important question has engaged the attention of the community for a considerable time, but seemingly without any very satisfactory result hitherto. As the want of roads is a matter of very serious import, and as it is the duty of everyone (who thinks he may have something reasonable to suggest, and till some plan be adopted) to make his ideas known, I venture to bring under the notice of your readers what I think may meet the present difficulty, and as I do so, realising, like others, the importance of the subject, I hope such as may disapprove of my scheme will see the propriety of proposing something more suitable for accomplishing the end in view. I don't take up the question in a controversial spirit, neither do I intend to review the plans already brought under the consideration of the community at public meetings — nor the action of Governments °past or present— but merely to apply myself to the existing state of things in reference to roads only — leaving the railways in the meantime to take care of themselves. It appear then that the East, the North, and (by Wallaeetown) Eiverton roads are impassable during several months of the year, and these the most important to the farmer. It will therefore be admitted that it is necessary for our progress — may I not say our very existence, as an agricultural community — that the nmin lines for roads for several miles out of town should be made passable before next winter, if possible, and I venture to think it is. It will also be admitted that the Government, however willing, has not at present unaided the means of accomplishing this very desirable object. "What then are we to do ? Are we likely to make roads by continuing to pour the vials of our wrath on the devoted heads of the Government and Provincial Council individually and collectively ? I think not. Believing that for a year or two to come we must help the Governtnentin order to help ourselves in this matter. I have the less hesitation in submitting a scheme which may perhaps answer the purpose, and which I believe to be fair in prinfiple, simple, and inexpensive in opera- | tion. I would propose then an average rate of only one penny on all the lands in the Province — sold, unsold, and under lease — one half payable by the landlord and the other by the tenant, Government being the landlord. Eor convenience I assume the acreage to be 2,400,000, which at the rate of one penny would yield the goodly sum of £10,000. Surely the owner of 100 acres would not grudge 8s 4d for the use of a tolerable road for a whole year. As even this small rate, however, might be considered objectionable by the pastoral tenants of the Crown, seeing these gentlemen have but very lately had their rents considerably augmented — probably one farthing per acre would be thought reasonable in their case — their landlord contributing the other three-fourths. But I certainly should like to get the whole penny, if only for uniformity sake. If the scheme be considered worth bringing under the consideration of the Council, the runholders, through their representatives, will have an opportunity of showing what proportion of the rate they think their landlord ought to pay. There would be no difficulty in setting this plan in motion, as the Government maps would show the acreage, sold, unsold, and under lease, and when this rate in aid would not be required, there would be no expensive machinery to demolish ; and for this among many other reasons, toll-bars, and the annual value to let principle are objectionable. The former oppress the very parties requiring relief in roads, as the Tiona fide settler would have to make them, while the absentee, allowing his lands to " sweat " as it is called, and who contributes neither directly nor indirectly to the revenue, would have his property enhanced in value, at the expense of the man carrying on the present death and life struggle. And the latter, viz., the annual value to let is simply absurd, and wholly inapplicable where let land is not the rule but the exception. I may here state that our friends in the home country, both in and out of Parliament have been exercising their ingenuity for the last eight or nine years endeavoring to devise some scheme for sweeping away every toll-bar in Great Britain, but hitherto without success. The main obstacle lies in 'dealing with the road trusts, and the enormous country debts contracted under their operation. The grand difficulty is the demolition of the machinery. When the ordinance survey of Great Britain is completed, by which the extent of every farm, however small, will be ascertained, there cannot be a doubt but the acreage will be adopted instead of many of the existing expensive, complicated, and in many cases unjust, modes of taxation. We have the acreage now, and therefore ought to adopt the least complicated, and the least oppressive system of making and maintaining our roads, profiting by the experience of our uative country. I would ask my fellow colonists to carefully consider the much lauded " District

Soad Board Act " said to be in successful operation in Victoria, and recommended for our adoption in thia colony by the General Government. This Act which we are called upon to take as our guide, consists of noHess than 333 clauses and tsn schedules, creating and extinguishing "District Eoad Boards " ad infinitum.— toll bars, the annual value to let, and the voluntary principle being its leading features," with the pleasing variety of being snuffed out at the will of the Governor when he thinks we are naughty boys. A ! mere cursory glance at the Act ought to j convince every reflecting colonist that under such there will be established a much more complicated, costly, and vexatious system of taxation than that now existing in the home country, and which our friends there are so anxious to do away with. This wonderful scheme provides the necessary legal machinery for organizing Eoad Boards, for subdividing them into two or more, for dovetailing an I unwilling third, on the voluntary principle ! of course, and the swallowing up of any number of these by constituting another at the will of the Governor. To maintain such a system in this Province would require more money than I propose to levy under the penny rate. In conclusion, I have no hesitation in saying that the East, to the Waihopai Bridge, the North to the Makerewa, and the Eiverton by the ferry roads can be made quite viable by the sum proposed under the penny rate, and that before next winter. Trusting it may be so. I am, &c, &c. Alpha. P. S. — It is scarcely necessary to say that draymen could be licensed at so much per ton.