DOMINION WANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1920, Page 5

DOMINION WANTS.

BETTER PUBLICITY AT HOME. ROADS AND RAILWAYS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 4. The conference of Chambers of Commerce resolved that a vigorous campaign o£ publicity in advertising New Zealand and its products at Home was necessary. Mr. J* T. Martin, Wellington, deseribcd the out-of-date methods in London, and he said that greater efforts were required at this end for directing the propaganda, and an expert was wanted to place the matter at the other endThe question of improvement to the main arterial roads of New Zealand was discussed to-day at the conference of the Chamber of Commerce. On the motion of Mr, J. B. Waters it was d'eeided that the.' Government be requested to put into operation a scheme such as the Victorian system or that of _ the Central Government of the United-States, which provides for the construction and maintenance on a basis of 50 per cent. State pnvment and C per cent, interest on the time payment system for the balance, apportioned among the interested local bodies. Su=h a scheme would be useful in furnishing employment for unskilled returned soldiers. " Another motion carried was that the Government be requested to introduce a Bill for the taxation of motors and other power-driven vehicles, the revenue derived to be allocated by three commissioners appointed for the purpose by tho Government to local bodies solely for the improvement of arterjal and' main district roads. The speedy completion of the main road from Auckland to Wellington was also the subject of a resolution. Pull consideration was given in the Chambers of Commerce Conference yesterday and to-day to the Canterbury Chamber's scheme for reform in the management and construction of New Zealand railways. The following amendment (J. T. Martin, Wellington) was carried: "That in order to eliminate political influence and promote efficiency and economy, the railways in course of construction and in prospect be taken over by the Railway Department and that the Canterbury remits be referred to the executive for further consideration, and, if necessary, action. Further, this conference affirm? the principle of non-political control" The conference also decided that the Railway Department he asked, to.assume responsibility for the delivery nf goods consigned to and from stations where there is a tablet porter in charge; that, the present position of the charges made by the Railway Department at various ports for sorting goods is inequitable,' and that the executive be asked to support the representations already made.