The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1915. PROPOSED MOA COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1915. PROPOSED MOA COUNTY.

Among the local Bills before tin' House this session is one having for its obje'.t the. creation of ft new county to replace the present Moa district, which is Administered by ft road board. The day | of utility for road boards is now over. They have done more or less good work In the past, but have always been severely handicapped for want of the necessary effective machinery to nu!;c and maintain serviceable roads. Their usefulness was mostly restricted to formed and unmetalled roads, culverts, etc., but now that settlement is more advanced there is an insistent demand for metalled roads, concrete bridges, and other permanent works, the use of labor saving and suitable machinery for the upkeep of the various thoroughfares. It is here that the larger resources of a county find a fitting scone for economical and efficient work, so that from time to time mergers of the whole, or parts of road districts have, been made. The Moa district peculiarly lends itself to being merged into the 'Farannki County with undoubted benefit to the ratepayers and every user of the foads. This county has shown considerable ability and commendable enterprise In putting its roads in good order. It has the machinery for the purpose, and the addition of the Moa road district would not entail any eStra cost for idministration, while the roads would be a credit to Tarauaki. An object lesson in this respect is seen in the case •if the Upper Kgmont Tioad, now under *he control of the road board. U is a connecting link with county roads. lei; its state is such as to call for strong ,':oudennmfion, especially in view of 11>e frict that we are entering largely !'>v

tourist traflir. A new coimiy would have to raise at least C2IMIII t'ol road machinery: it would entail extra co-t. tor administration, and the settlers j»oiild be suddenly burdened without receiving the advantages they ilcMie. As a matter of fact, instead of 1110:0 (.oiinly di.-fiiefs. we would like In -c Ljie present number in tic province materially reduced and the State take Over control of all the arterial roads. It would in the long run save ratepayers Itnd the country generally very many thousands of pounds.