NATIONAL ROAD SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 166, 12 July 1912, Page 6

NATIONAL ROAD SCHEME.

TO- EKCOTTRAGE SETTLEMEKT. A PRACTICAL PROPOSAL, At the meeting of the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association yesterday nfternoon Mr. N. A. Winter (TatLmarumii) delivered a shrewdly practical address on the question of arterial roads in relation to land settlement. It was, he said, .1 sign of the times, that an. inflnent'ial society should have derided to make a complete study of the question of reading: the days were passing away when iiHlivvhial bits of road were mail--for individual bits of country as the result of the importunity of the memher of Parliament for the district. itwas recount »d- that reading was of national iin-porta.mx' and that, a comprehensive scheme for the construction and ■maintenance of highways throughout the country should be inaugurated as soon a-s possi-ble. The present time was opportune for beginning a strong agitation for this reform: the demand for land had never been so keen; and roads more than anything else would afford facilities for the production necessary to make exports balance or exceed imports. "It is beyond the powers of local ■bodies," Mt. Winter went on to say, 'Ho construct aud maintain roads out of rates levied on settlers Who would beneifit by them. The whole strength of the nation must iS necessary be pledged for its accompfisiiment. Tire great com•panies that colonised the South Island jnad-e provision for roading by means of the sale of land; the eore-eijucnce is that in Canterbury and elsewhere a splendid set of highways exists. The Maori war ill the North Island hindered the execution of similar work In this section of the Dominion." Continuing, he. urged that there -was not one of our national activities but would be found to derive its origin from the land so that the creation of highways being indispensable for the succeysfel occupation of land, the question of .providing them should not be regarded as one affecting the individual, but should 'be looked upon as an undertaking of vital importance to the nation at large. A fatal mistake ■would foe made 'if the country was thrown open before the roads were made. When the State was .assured 01" ■having increased rentals when the roads were constructed, it would surely be good business to construct the roads first and seize the increased rentals from the jump. The settlers should 'then be loaded with the interest on the money cx-pemled on the roads. Mr. Winter submitted estimates to show that it, was a perfectly sound proposal to adopt a national borrowing policy for the purpose of road construction. He was aroorded a hearty vote of thanks for 'his eminently practical address, mid steps will he taken to have the attention of Parliament drawn to the sng-gestion contained therein.