MODERN ROADS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18631, 4 March 1926, Page 8

MODERN ROADS.

ENGLAND'S SUPREMACY.

address by colonel symonds

Salient points in tho address givea last night, by Lieut.-Colonel Guv Symonds on."Modern Eoads" were that England to-day is years ahead of any other country iu her roading, that good roads benefit not only the motorist, but all classes in the community, and that the English method of treating corners reduces, practically to vanishing point, accidents to vehicles coming out of cross-roads. Colonel Symonds had something to sa\' about Canterbury roads, his remarks being based on a statement by the chairman (Mr W. Goss) who, in indicating that the Progress League (under the auspices of which the address was given) was anxious to assist tho Waimairi County Council in getting its loan proposals for road construction carried, said that one who travelled throughout the Dominion, saw what was being done in other centres, and on returning home felt a little disappointed that Christcliureh had not started in the same direction. Colonel Symonds said that he could hardly back up the chairman's statement. "Taranaki had done a fremondous amount of work, and one could go from Wanganui to New Plymouth on reasonably good roads, but he had not seen them elsewhere. He hud gone once or twice from Christcliureh to Dunedin by road. No one could snv the roads were good; those in Ashburton County were certainly the best. But Canterbury, sneaking of what he knew of it, had no reason to be ashamed of its roads. The roads proposed to be laid by the Waimairi County were, for rural!, or country roads, of a character one did not see elsewhere in New Zealand. With the exception of Taranaki, Canterbury was not so far' behind other districts.

Tho Best Surface? Controversey still existed, Colonel Symonds said, on the question of bituminous versus cement concrete surfaces. It was settled in England; America the matter was still in doubt. Not only did England possess' roads ahead of any other country, but she had also planned better for the future —for 25 or 30 years ahead. Despite the tax of £1 per horse power, there was a more contented body of road-' users in England than anywhere else in the world. England had also proved conclusively that improved roads were not only for the private motor-owner, but 'that the whole country benefited by them. Small country schools had been closed down because it was so easy to transport children by motor vehicles on good roads to larger centres where they got better education. He praised the foresight that had decreed that New Zealand roads should be one chain wide, but warned road authorities against that width being cut down to 20 feet by the erection of telegraph and power poles. Tho 1 interesting series of lantern slides, and equally interesting cinematograph films shown by Colonel Symonds emphasised the outstanding points in his address. Tho slides showed someof the modern English roads. Tho rounding of corners was emphasised in almost every case. Several instances were pictured where grades had heen done away with by cuttinc and fillings. The cinematograph films illustrated the actual methods-used in laying fivo different kinds of roads. At the conclusion of his address, which was followed with keen interest bv an audience that filled the Chamber of Commerce hall,, Colonel Symonda answered questions, and was accorded a vote of thanks.