The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1914. A MAIN ROADS POLICY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 93, 11 April 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1914. A MAIN ROADS POLICY.

Most people will agree with a writer in the Wellington “Post” who asserts that New Zealand at present has no main roads policy, and it is quite true that while some local bodies would like to throw all main roads on to the Government, others are desirous of maintaining control, and keeping the roads more or less in good order—generally loss. Some think that all transport problems will bo solved by the motor. Others wish to tax motor traffic. While there is a movement to push main roads on to the Government, the latter, conversely, is prepared to surrender .railway-making powers in certain circumstances to local bodies, because the national finances are overburdened. The “Post” goes on to say that no principle is discernible in thb roads policy of New Zealand unless it be the had principle of using public works money as Government bribes. As transport is the first consideration, the conference proposed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will prove a real benefit if it brings scattered county and other bodies into co-operation and secures a co-ordination of policy and effort. Some of the work to be done is pioneering, and some is improvement. While the first need of an ont-hack settlor is a road, his second is the improvement of railway access. Possibly in no part of Now Zealand are these needs more' greatly felt than in Taranaki, and the problems of how to make and how to maintain our main roads arc grave indeed. Certainly what we do want is a sound main roads policy.