The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1921. ARTERIAL ROADS SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1921. ARTERIAL ROADS SCHEME.

The details of the Government’s arterial roads scheme, as outlined by the Minister of Public Works (thp Hon. J. G. Coates), cannot fail to attract general attention. The problem is one that has long been awaiting solution, yet the scheme now proposed is as simple as it could possibly be. In view of the controversy over the question of toll-gates, it is interesting to note that the Minister has decidedly condemned that system as being “inconvenient, obsolete, and often unfair in its incidence, and must necessarily be rejected in any well-considered policy.” In face of such a sweeping denunciation it would seem that toll-gates are doomed to extinction, for if they are not worthy of consideration in connection with the national scheme, they should form no part of local government policy, and Mr. Coates deserves the commendation of the community for having the courage of his convictions. The basis of the new scheme is that the main arterial roads are to be treated on the same principle as the railways—to be constructed and maintained wholly out of Dominion funds, local bodies being eliminated from the scheme. The necessary finance for this purpose is to be provided by a special duty on tyres, a special license fee at flat rates for motor vehicles according to the number of wheels thereon, and by a Parliamentary grant, either from the Public Works or Consolidated Fund. The administration of. the scheme is to be entrusted to b special board, and to be free from all political or parochial influence. The only exemption from this control is where an arterial road runs through a city or borough, and in such cases the city or borough will continue to be responsible for the road as heretofore. The reasons given for this exemption from special control are that cities and boroughs have the opportunity of more intensive taxation on highly valued property. and that high speed traffic, and the consequent destruction of the road, is not permissible or possible to anything like the extent as is the ease on the open highways outside. That the incidence of the cost under this scheme will press heavily on those who own and use motor vehicles is evident, more particularly on those who reside in cities or boroughs. They will only have to pay the duty on tyres and the license fees to the Government (or the arterial highways board), but also be rated on high values by the local authority, nr, well as being subjected to a local charge for a license. Manifestly, however, if suitable roads for high speed motor traffic are to be provided, it is only reasonable that those who use the roads should pay accordingly. At the same time it would seem only a fail - arrangement that horsedrawn vehicles, especially those carrying heavy loads, should also contribute by way of a license based on haulage capacity, for there can be no question that carriage of timber, firewood, metal, and other hbavy freight does considerable damage, to roads even of the most enduring type. It may be assumed that these and other matters affecting the scheme will receive the attention they merit when the Bill is before Parliament. In outlining the proposal

' before the session the Minister has given all interested an opportunity to discuss the matter in all its bearings, and no doubt he will welcome any suggestions for improving the scheme, provided they do not affect the general principles on which it is based. Necessarily, owing to the huge expenditure involved in a work of such great magnitude, the number of highways to be defined as main arterial roads must be few, and it is satisfactory to find that the first on the list is what may be termed ,the main north road, from Kaitaia to Wellington, via. Auckland, Hamilton, Te Kuiti, Waitara and Wanganui. The importance of this road, so far as Taranaki is concerned, is very great, for between Te Kuiti and Waitara there is no railway, and the road in places is only negotiable for a portion of the year, and then only by light traffic, so that a reliable road fit to carry motor, traffic will be an immense- boon to the settlers in getting their' Produce to the seaport of Taranaki. They have suffered long, but may now look forward with confidence to better times and more ,comfortable conditions. Possibly one effect of the scheme will be to bring about the establishment of an industry for the manufacture of motor tyres, otherwise their cost will be very heavy. That, however, is a mere detail compared with the prospect of having arterial roads worthy of the name. Although the scheme will place in ths hands of the board the full control of .the arterial roads and the finances connected ' therewith, practically the Gov- ' ernment will have the dominating! influence, inasmuch as it seems* likely that the departmental engineers will be in the majority on the board. This is in a sense a safeguard and a guarantee against tinkering. Who the “other gentlemen” on the board are to be is not disclosed, but so long as due care is taken that they are well qualified for the duty the public will be satisfied. The. two great aims should be to provide arterial roads where most needed, and to obtain the very best that science and skill can suggest. A large loan will be needed, but if the money is judiciously expended it will be a sound investment that would have been all the more profitable had it been made many years ago.