The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1919. MAIN TRAFFIC ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1919. MAIN TRAFFIC ROADS.

It is generally admitted that the day of the water-bound macadam road has passed, so far as the main arterial thoroughfares are concerned, and that it has passed in consequence of the advent of rub- i ber-tyred power-driven vehicles now being used for traffic. The iron tyred vehicles loosen the surface and the rubber tyre sucks up minute particles of stone and throws them to the winds, with the result that wear on water-bound roads from this class of traffic has made them impossible of maintenance except at prohibitive cost. The problem of making the main roads stand this new traffic, as well as the additional wear and tear arising from the enormously increased distance from which the through traffic comes, is one that has caused much attention, and very large capital outlay has been necessitated, especially in Taranaki, for the construction of tar-sealed roads. The Industries Committee, in reporting on this subject, said that the problem had become acute, and while complimenting Taranaki on providing an object lesson for the rest of New Zealand, expressed the opinion that it was not equitable that the whole cost of construction or maintenance of such roads should fall on the local authority through whose district they ran. That contention has been forcibly advanced on many occasions, but so far without bearing fruit. The Committee recommends that the Government should formulate a comprehensive scheme to include the classification of the main traffic roads, and that State assistance should be given according to the classification, and that such assistance should be devoted to the improvement of the main traffic roads; •also that instead of Government subsidies being limited as at present on rates not exceeding £IO,OOO, a uniform subsidy should be paid on all rates raised—the larger the rates the larger the subsidy; while, on giving effect to these proposals, all toll gates should be abolished. The justice of these recommendations cannot be questioned, especially in view of the fact that "few things contribute . more to the amenities of country life than good roads," and it would only be fair to make the proposed State assistance retrospective. It is quite conceivable that though tar-sealed roads are a vast improvement on the old water-sealed highways, science may yet evolve some better scheme for utilising materials that are available. In a brief discusi sion which took place last week at , Wellington, Mr Leonard Sand- . ston, M.A., B.Sc, went fully into l the question, and he was at some pains to show' that concrete was 'j»Qt the tmrfeet material it was

popularly supposed to be for making permanent roads, owing to its being subject ■to deterioration from a number of agencies not yet wholly understood, the result being that the surface cracked, broke away, and in a short time the whole road might be useless, being incapable of repaiy. Concrete, however, made an excellent foundation which could be made to last for all time if covered with water proofing material. He illustrated the fine'roads made in America with the use of a carpet of asphalt, made from the natural asphalt of Trinidad or Bermudas, or the product of the distillation of petroleum, and this carpet could be laid safely either on concrete or on the sound surface of a macadam road. It was by this latter method he hoped much might be done in the Dominion. At the same time Mr Sandston urged that the Government should establish a central department for education, research, experiment and skilled supervision, and the public be educated to submit to taxation in order tp get improved road service. There is good, sound common sense in this suggestion. The science of road-making to meet present and future conditions is one that needs much research and experiment, and sufficient inducement should be offered to attract the services of practical investigators. Meanwhile the proposals of the Industries Committee deserve prompt and favorable consideration by the Government. This has recently been demonstrated during the railway cut, when it was imperative to use hiph speed motor cars on the main roads owing to the absence of through trains. Every effort should be made to secure the most durable and economic roads, a task which is national rather than local. The first cost must inevitably be heavy, but the saving in upkeep should in the long run prove that the polfcy has the merit of being far less costly than continually expending money in repairs, so that the necessary loans and the Government subsidy should rapidly extinguish the capital outlay.