NATIONAL ROADS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 5 February 1913, Page 4

NATIONAL ROADS.

Writing under the heading “National Roads,” the Taranaki Herald remarks that eight separate districts were represented at a conference of backblocks local bodies at Ohura last week, when some important resolutions were passed respecting the reading of tire, country. The first was to the effect that the Government should forthwith form and metal one arterial road in each county not already so provided, and maintain it wherever the land passed through by such roads is reserved for national purposes, the work to bo undertaken as a national work. Presumably, the Herald goes on to say, the delegates had in mind such roads as that over Mount Messenger, through the Tangarakau Gorge, and in other places where they pass through permanent reserves. We have consistently for many years urged that these roads—the Waitara-Te Kuiti and the Ohura—should be metalled throughout by the Government, and we have repeated advocated also that all main arterial roads should be controlled and maintained by the Government. The Ohura conference did not go so far as this, merely affirming that wherever a road passes through land reserved for national purposes it should be maintained by the Government. But why stop at that ? Why not place the whole responsibility of making and maintaining main roads upon the General Government instead of upon local governing bodies? In most cases the work would probably bo done more efficiently and more cheaply, because the Government would be in a position to employ the very best road-engineering talent and the most modern machinery. The burden would be more equitably distributed and there would I)e less friction. Reform in this direction is certainly needed.