MAIN TRAFFIC ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1919, Page 3

MAIN TRAFFIC ROADS.

TARANAKI ROADS A MODEL. (Special to Daily News.) Wellington, Last Night.

Reports tho Parliamentary Industries Committee:—The Committee were impressed by what had been done in the formation of tar-sealed roads ;n the provincial district of Taranaki, which has provided an object-lesson for the rest of New Zealand. It is not equitable that the, whole cost of either construction or maintenance of roads should fall on the local authority through whose district they run, and the Committee recommend:—

(1) That the Government formulate a comprehensive scheme to- deal with this question, and such scheme shall include: (a) The classification of the main traffic roads; (b) State assistances, the amount to depend on the classification; (c) Provision to ensure that such assistance shall be used for the improvement of the main traffic roads.

(2.) That an alteration bs made in the basis oB which subsidies are paid to local authorities from the Consolidated Fund. A uniform subsidy ihould be paid on all fates raised without any limitation a3 regards total amount or amount of rate, so that the larger the amount raised in rates the larger the subsidy received(3.) That on these proposals being given effect to, it shall not be lawful for any local authority to establish any toll-gate, and all toll-gates then existing shall be abolished; and that section sof the Counties Amendment Act, 1915, and all by-laws made under that section, be repealed.