MAIN ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1920, Page 11

MAIN ROADS.

TOLL-GATES OR SUBSIDIES? WHAT IS GOVERNMENT POLICY? A deputation from the Wanganui and Rangitikei County Councils waited upon the Hon. .1. 0. Coates, Minister for Public Works, with a, view to ascertaining the Government policy in regard to the problem of the,maintenance of the arterial roads of the Dominion. Mr. W. S. Glenn, M.P., introduced the deputation. The chairman of the Wanganui County Council (Mr. A. Robinson) stressed the need *ot modern road improvements ir. view of the great growing traffic. Local body finance, he stated,' had not increased eommensurately with the greater road traffic and the consequently greater wear and tear 041 the main roads. They had come to see the Minister specially about the great north road between Wanganui and Bulls; and they suggested two alternatives —either that, by themselves or in conjunction with the Rangitikei County Council, they should be allowed to establish a toll on phe road, or that the Government should, as urged by the Local Bodies' Conference, grant a subsidy of 10s in the £ on the general rates collected. The Wanganui County Council had taken a census, which showed that on the averr.ge 140 cars passed over the road every day. Would the Minister permit a toil to be established? The chairman of the Rangitikei County Council (Mr. B. P. Leth'bridge) and other speakers endorsed what Mr. Robinson had said, and pointed out the great development of heavy lorry traffic now competing successfully with the railways between Wanganui and Wangaehu. Mr. Glenn said that it was hoped that the proposal to establish a toll would to some extent force the hands of thu Government and, cause it to declare its policy with regard to main and arterial roads. The Hon. J. G. Coates, in reply, promised to consider the whole matter of toll-gates and subsidies and give his decision. He was aware they wanted to know the Government policy in regard to main and arterial roads, and probably his own views, but he was not prepared to make a statement yet, because it was a matter upon which Cabinet would require to be consulted. The PublicWorks Department was preparing a report, or a scheme, for dealing with main and arterial road maintenance, and it would probably be the basis of future action and legislation. The Government recognised that it had to face this question. He would let them know the result at an early date.