RISING ROADING EXPENDITURE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19983, 18 July 1930, Page 13

RISING ROADING EXPENDITURE.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. VIEWS OF THE GOVERNMENT. [THE PEES 3 Special Sendee.} WELLINGTON, July 17. The question of rising expenditure on roading throughout the couutry has been receiving the attention, of the Transport Department recently,-, and a survey of the investigations was made by the Minister for Transport (the* ' Hon. W. B. Taverher) to-day. ' He stated that 'althbngh it was difficult to assess the annual roading -bill, it was estimated that it was .in the vicinity of £7,000,000 or £8,000,000. ■' Definite.proposals had been made for reductions in costs, including the:more economical use. .of roads. This was closely allied to .the co-ordination-; of transport, a question being investigated by the Eoyal Commission on railway organisation. .■' .' : . "A question, of equal importance, however," said Mr J Taverner,- "is the fixiitgj by reasonable classification* ot the actual standards of our roads, which, in turn, govern the gross-weight allowed. So far as heavy traffic is concerned in this connexion, I have communicated with about forty of the County Councils in the South Island seeking their co-operation in securing uniform road classification and 'Urging that prompt • action be taken where it may>be possible to" do so-." - -r . "*• ■ In the South Isjand. "_" , "Of over 20,000 inilea of rural rpads in the South Island more thap 18,000 miles are either unclassified, or classified as first class. That is, over 90 per cent, of the roads- are open for gross loads up to ten tons. - When it « remembered' , that at ,8300 m'otor-tWCka registered in the -South.lsland only" 147, or 1.8 per cent., are registered for this , gross load, it will be seen how much in excess of traffic .requirements,.the road facilities are. If this state of affaire is allowed to continue it is only reasonable to assume that it will engender heavier traffic units. Maintenance and construction costs immediately show a ■ proportionate rise. "The county ratepayer, the motorist, and the general taxpayer are all being subjected to an ever-increasing burden in the form of increased rates, petrol tax, heavy traffic fees, and increased taxes to meet the increasing cost of road maintenance and construction, and it is essential" that every, reasonable and economic effort be made .to keep • road maintenance _ and construction ' costs as low as possible.' The classification of roads 7w-con-sidered under the three following heads: — .... -.-. * • (1). The loads the road is capable of carrying. ~-,'. . . (2) The transport requirements « the areas served by. the road. . (3) Other transport facilities available, such as railways, etc. • ' An Important Step. "T£e Government feels viae that » comprehe-isive and reasonable classification of the rural roads of this country will be one of the most important steps in the organisation'of'roa<J transport and will also have the effect _of reducing maintenance and construction costs while, at the same time, making ample for all reasonable traffic requirements."