SEALING MAIN HIGHWAYS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 19

SEALING MAIN HIGHWAYS

Policy Praised By Mr Goosman NATIONAL ROADS BOARD’S ACHIEVEMENT (New Zeatana Press Association) n e . AUCKLAND. June 11. Referring to the National Roads Boards performance in the last year s ? alln * 1022 miles, the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) said at the annual meeting of the Institute of County Engineers in Auckland today it could not have been achieved under any other policy than the existing one. At one time it was thought that when a road was to be sealed the work should be done in one stage, and that was all. Thus the previous administration had counted on sealing the 69 miles between Christchurch and Blenheim at the rate of five miles a year. But now the transforming of an old metal road into a top class highway v.as accomplished in three stages. The first was to place a coat of seal on to last for about 10 years: the second was to widen it: the final job on the road might be many years ahead. After two years’ functioning the board had completely sealed the Christchurch-Blenheim road. This policy was paying dividends, continued the Minister. “You pay for good roads whether you have them or not.’’ He added it was Id to lid cheaper to run a car on a sealed road than on a metal road, and if all New Zealand’s roads were sealed that would represent a saving to the community of £13.500.000 to £20.000,000 a year. Primary production would also be affected favourably, as stock would no longer suffer injury thro jgh dust from passing cars.