The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1921. THE ROADING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1921. THE ROADING PROBLEM.

There are two sides to every question, including the much-discussed matter of toll-gates; but it is necessary, in order to arrive at a just verdict, that the weight of the evidence coincide with the judgment delivered. In his recent interview with a newspaper reporter—an interview with an object—Mr. W. Stuart Wilson elaborated at some length an argument in favor of toll-gates, based on the hypothesis that “if good roads mean toll-gates, let us have them both”. It is, of course, satisfactory to have Taranaki’s roads quoted as an object lesson for the other parts of the Dominion; but when Mr. Wilson practically asserts that Taranaki has solved the roading problem by the erection of toll-gates, which have provided the local bodies with the necessary finance whereby these good roads were laid down, he takes more for granted than the circumstances warrant. There were toll-gates in Taranaki many years ago (long before tar-sealing was in vsgue), when the roads were certainly far from being good, and most of these impediments to free traffic were withdrawn. The claim which Mr. Wilson makes on behalf of the province, that it is the only portion of the Dominion possessing good roads is not, as he contends, due to the effect 'of toll-gates, but to the enlightened policy of most of the public bodies concerned in recognising the economical value of and raising loans for this work, including the expensive process of construction, so as to secure permanency. The imposition of toll-gates certainly assisted in paying the interest on loans, but not only is the collection of tolls expensive; it is a system that can at best be regarded as an expedient that possesses great disadvantages, creates irritation, and is economically unsound, besides which it leaves the crux of the roading problem untouched. In touring through Taranaki, Mr. Wilson passed through certain toil-gates, and appears to have arrived at the conclusion that the tolls made the roads. He states: “The toll-gates are showing in Taranaki that, regarded as makers of fine roads, they can deliver the goods.” Now, it is admitted that the roads in the Waimate County are the best in the province ; yet that county has no toll-gate of its own, though it is fenced in with .them. On the other hand, Stratford County is only responsible for a few miles of main road, and lias a toll-gate, while the counties of Taranaki. Inglewood, Eltham and Hawera have longer stretches of road to maintain, and should not they also be entitled to toll-gates? Even if these relies of primitive adminis- . tration were good things—which they certainly are not—a network of barriers to highway traffic such wpuld. result M iialiilc

body (including boroughs) erecting toll-gates would be intolerable. Progressiveness and toll, gates cannot be. reconciled. What is wanted is a proper system of control of our main roads, not spasmodic tinkering with clumsy and costly makeshifts that may have passed muster in the old pioneering days, but are incongruous in the present state of the country’s de velopment. There should be a central roading authority with adequate finance, a skilled staff and a definite policy. The main argument in favor of tolls has aidways been that those who use the roads should pay for them; but the point that is usually unnoticed is that the whole community uses the roads, directly or indirectly, and that in the end it is the producer who pays. The expenses of the commercial traveller are added to the cost of the goods that are sold to the farmer; the doctor passes on the cost of tolls, and so does the tradesman. It is quite an erroneous idea that the outsider pays for the roads; the cost, in some form or another, comes back on the producer. The general condemnation of tollgates by the motor associations speaks for itself. The roading problem is not a matter of tollgates and good or bad roads, but of national policy; not a question of clumsy and costly expedients, but of enlightened administration. The whole of Mr. Wilson’s arguments in favor •of toll-gates fall to the ground in view of the fact that, not only do the local bodies in Taranaki not favor tollgates, but desire their abolition and the substitution of a motor tyre tax and totalisator tax—a view that has been endorsed by the Municipal Conference and County Councils Conference, as well as the Automobile Association. The general manager of the borough of New Plymouth (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) placed this matter in its true light, when interviewed on Mr. Wilson’s statements, and it is hoped the Government will next session bring down a Main Roads Bill that will at once and for all time put an end to toll-gates, and solve the problem in a way that will be progressive instead of retrograde while being just and equitable to the whole community.