ARTERIAL ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 April 1914, Page 7

ARTERIAL ROADS.

WAITARA-TF. KUITI CONNECTION. Mr. €. IcpcU, chairman of the Awakino County < 'nuiieil, waited on the Clif- ' ton County Council on Friday and hud a conversation with members on matters i of interest, to the two counties. t The first matter touched on was tin; forthcoming visit of the Minister of Public "Works to the district. Mr. Leech considered that both counties should stress certain matters. At a meeting held at Awakino a fortnight ago it was divided that it was far better to unitedly push forward one or two important things ,than to cloud the issue by bringing forward many smaller affairs. The main work required was undoubtedly the competition of the Te Kuiti-Waitara main road, and a resolution was Carried by the meeting deprecating the neglect shown in the past in completing the road, and expressing the opinion that the completing of main roads such as this should be made the main plank in a roading policy of the Dominion. The resolution, he added, did not specify Mt. Messenger or the Mokau bridge, but these, of course, were included in the,; whole work. Dealing with the Mokau bridge, he said that there was a feeling' abroad that the Awakino County Council should take the initiative in the matter. The Council might have appeared dilatory in not taking up the matter for which lie had been agitating for years, but the position was that lie felt that file Awakino Council did not possess a majority in favor of the Mo,kau bridge. Tne majority of members came from the north and wished traffic to trend towards Te Kuiti. Mr. Leech then referred to a remit which he was bringing before the Backblocks Local liodies' Association's Conference, viz., that the Government should establish a definite system of subsidy on all moneys raised by local bodies for the completion and upkeep of all main arterial roads. lie took it that the proposal that the Government should take over all arterial roads would never be put into operation in New Zealand, as the recent, county councils' conference showed that there would be too much eppositiun from the Bettled portions of the country who had good roads, and who would not care to assist the bai-lvblock'TS struggling in the id. (Tis proposal was that the settler ould find one third of the money and e Government two-thirds.

In reply to questions, Mr. Leech said that he meant the two-thirdß subsidy i.to apply to the upkeep of the main TOads as Well. With regard to main roads, he considered that the present 5s in the £ snb-icly on rates would lapse, but it would be applicable to byroads. His proposal would be a special inducement for settlers to help! themselves.

The chairman was afraid that this scheme might kill any chance there was of the Government taking over main arterial roads.

Or. Sander ibought it was advisable that the remit should come forward, as it would give public men an opportunity to discuss the question before the next Counties' Conference.

The opinion was expressed that this scheme would abolish toll-gates. The main difficulty would be the defining of what was a main arterial road. Every

day new roads were being declared. After ii. little informal discussion, the Council's delegate was given a free

Mr. Letch extended a welcome to all the councillors to visit Awakino and be the guests of the Awakino .settlers at a banquet whi.-h was to be given to the Minister of Vuttlic Works.