ROADMAKER RETIRES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 23

ROADMAKER RETIRES

SIR HENRY MAYBURY’S WORK *4,000 MILES OF WAR ROADS Sir Henry Maybury, DirectorGeneral of Roads at the Ministry of Transport, and chairman of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, having exceeded the civil service age for retirment, recently tendered his resignation. With his resignation the public loses an indefatigueable worker whose services, both in peace and war. have been of remarkable value. Early in 1916 Sir Henry, who is now 64, was called upon by the Government to organise roads behind the line in France and Flanders. He was the nominee of Sir Eric Geddes, who described him as “the greatest road-maker in the world.” Brigadier-General Maybury this was the rang with which he went to France —lived up to his reputation. Under his command were 330 officers, 13,600 skilled road and quarry troops and 30,000 unskilled men. He w r as responsible for the upkeep and construction of some 4,000 miles of roads and other works of vital importance to the mobility of our armies. When Haig wanted roads, General Maybury was there to supply them. He made them out of shell-torn, water logged battlefields, and he made them quickly and well, for they had to withstand the strain of the endless caravans of war. “Roads,” as Sir Henry became known, would outline a mighty proposition to his staff, and say, “I’ve alw'ays asked you to do the impossible and you’ve never failed me.” They never did. Wonderful roads —models for the w'orld to copy—have been made over the face of Britain, and traffic burdens particularly in London, have been eased by his progressive methods.