ROADS IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25736, 23 February 1949, Page 4

ROADS IN N.Z.

“USERS WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE”

TRANSPORT POSITION SAID TO BE CHAOTIC

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. February 22. A forecast that road users would be called on to pay more for the use of roads was made by Mr F. M. H. Hanson, chief engineer of the Main Highways Board. Wellington, at the annua] conference of the New' Zealand Institution of Engineers. “At present, the allocation to the Main Highways Fund is entirely out of date,” said Mr Hanson. “An adjustment must be made, and you will all have to pay more for the use of roads.”

Mr Hanson was taking part in a discussion on the effect of modern traffic on New Zealand roads. He said that some basis must be found to determine what was to be hauled on the road and on the railways. Motor importers were asking for a decision on axle-loads, and truck operators were in a quandary over the classification of roads. The whole position was chaotic, and a reasonable balance should be reached between the cost of reading and the cost of hauling. County councils. engineers, the Transport Department. road users, and others had held conferences, and he hoped that the position would soon be clarified, added Mr Hanson.