The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1914. NEW PLYMOUTH STREETS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 35, 1 July 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1914. NEW PLYMOUTH STREETS.

New Plymouth cannot pride itself upon till! condition of its streets, which lately have been growing from bad to worse. 'lndeed, to negotiate some of them by 'vehicle or motor is a task attended with no little difficulty or risk—certainly with no comfort. The wet spell of weather has revealed weaknesses in nearly all tlie important streets, and the extra ■heavy carting that lias been done by the Council in connection with the kerbing and channelling and other loan work lias not tended to improve matters. The road between the Waiwakaiho and Te llenui bridge resembles a sludge channel; so does a part of Gill street. Liardet street, with its gaping holes, is a veritable death-trap. Carrington road has not for years been in a satisfactory state, but now it is more like a backblocks track than an important thoroughfare. Metal has been dumped down to fill some of the holes, but never having been rolled in or blinded it has only added to the difficulty and discomfort of those unfortunate enough to have to "use the road. It is the same in other parts of the borough. Maintenance work has apparently been neglected earlier in the year, and effort concentrated upon the special loan work. No doubt it is a good thing to see the surplus labor ot the place engaged on the loan works during the winter, but the Council's first duty is to keep the streets open to and in a fit condition for traffic. This has not been done. The big works might with advantage have been carried out at a more settled period of the year, thus ensuring far better results, and attention paid to the necessary patching and general maintenance work. The Council lias employed just now a very large staff of men and teams, with an up-to-date plant, yet there never was a time in the history of the town when the streets were in such an inefficient and disgraceful state. We know the Council is disinclined to spend much money on Devon street on account of the forthcoming laying of the tramline, but that is no reason for allowing the road to deteriorate as it has been deteriorating lately. As for the other streets, this excuse cannot be offered. Is the Council powerless to improve things? Can it not fill in some of the holes and roll the stone in, making the streets at least passable? If more money than is available is necessary, then let the Council say so. Rather than submit to what they are obliged to now, ratepayers would, we feel sure, willingly bear an increased rate. Bad streets do any town harm, and just now, when New Plymouth is attracting a great deal of attention outside, and is on the verge of a considerable forward movement, it is most unfortunate that its principal streets should have been allowed to get into such a disgraceful condition. The Council should act, and act quickly, with a view to improving things and establishing a more efficient •yatem than obtains at present.