THE ROAD BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 192, 16 August 1939, Page 8

THE ROAD BILL.

The road system of New Zealand, it is now generally admitted, is good. It ought , to be, for it cost £10,623,098 last year. Maintenance costs exceeded three millions, new construction exceeded five millions, and debt charges amounted to considerably n ore than two millions. As to maintenance, the report of the Transport Department shows that a high standard of motoring, like a high standard of living, cannot be enjoyed for nothing. There are 11,728 mites of main highways,. and the average cost for maintenance alone is nearly 7/ per mile per day. With debt charges added, the cost is nearly 10/ per mile per day. It is often contended that the heavy expenditure on roads is justified because good roads play a part in efficient production. So they do, but whereas in 1934-35 the private motor car provided 67 per cent of the total use of the highways, last year it provided 74 per cent. This seems to show clearly that the principal benefit from modern highways is gained ih motoring for pleasure, and that the criticism that the rate of expenditure is excessive cannot be met by the plea that it is aiding production.