A NATIONAL HIGHWAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2527, 30 July 1915, Page 2

A NATIONAL HIGHWAY

"TIME INOPPORTUNE"

F@R ANY LARGE EXPENDITURE

The .need for a national highway between Wellington and Auckland has been discussed at various time?, and recently a conference was held at 'J'aunnrunui to consider the matter. Arising out of that conference a deputation from the Auckland and -Wellington City Councils, awl the.local bodies' concerned, waited on the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. W. I'. Massey). and the Minister of Publio AVorbs (tho Hon. AV. Fraser) yesterday, and urged tho .construction of the main wad between Taumarunui and Te Kuiti, with a view to the completion of a broad highway between the two cities. After the various speakers had put forward their ideas on the subject, the Ministers replied. ,

- Mr. Massey said that whilst he.had a great deal of sympathy with the object of the deputation, it was a very largo order, and lie thought that for the present it would bs best to confine attention to the question of communication from -Taihape to To Kuiti. Ho.believed that the use of -motor-cars would continue to increase considerably, and these cars were much more severe on the roads than ordinary vehicles. It was certain that motor-cars would have to contribute in tho future a great deal more than at present to tho maintenance of roads. (Hear, hear.) ■ Tho present was an inopportune time for any large expenditure The already heayy expenditure on account of the war was likely to increase rather than decrease, and no one could tell bow much the war would cost in all. That was no, reason why developmental _ works should be . stopped, but only a limited amount of money for public works could now be l-aised, and at present the Government could not shoulder any liabilities beyond those for which it was already responsible; provision of course, would have to bo made for the unemployed in the event of any depression. Last, year he had obtained the authority, of Parliament for the raising of a million pounds for the inabing.br roads in tho out districts, and tho road referred to' by the deputation was one of thoso that ho had in mind at the time. They must, not. imagine that the Governmen would pay, the whole of the cost, but if tho finances permitted it should assist. He had not yet been able to' raise that million, and he did not know when they would bo able to raise it. He did not object to tho Minister of Publio Works going on with tho preliminary work, such as the surveys, but any work on a large, scale would have to stand over until the financial outlook was better than at present. Ho did not wish them to understand from this that there was anything wrong with the finances of the Dominion, as there was nothing wronj, but thero was an abnormal expenditure. If they came to see himself and the Minister of Public Works at a more opportune. time, he did not think that they would go away disappointed. The Hon. W. Praser, Minister for Public Works said that it was absolutely necessary that' settlers in isolated outdistricts should be given means for the conveyance of' their stock , and produce to the railway. AVhen good main roads were constructed they were ■ often used largely by motor-cars, with the result that tho revenuo of the railways . was affected. He admitted that for a certain distance no road had been made between To Kuiti ami Taumarunui. 'If the time was opportune -he would like to raise-sufficient money to make all these roads, prSvided that ho was first satisfied that there was ample means to meet'the wants of the < people in the back-block 3 for whom his sympathies always camo first. He was not' yet sure whether ho would be able to provido anything for this work this year; in any place a survey would have .to first be"made, but there was a\ difficulty in this matter, as bis engineering staff ,had l>een depleted by so' many men going to the front., As to the »ap between. -To Kuiti and Taumarunui he recognised that something -was required there, if it was only for the purpose of enabling settlers to get their stook through, but he could make no promise in regard to a vehicular road. It was of more importance to give' access to important railway stations by : side roads than to make a road parallel with a" railway. ,

A COUNTER-DEPUTATION. SETTLERS BEFORE MOTORISTS. A counter-deputation, consisting of Messrs. J. H. Lyon, chairman of the Ohura County Council, and P. Brass, chairman of the Waimarino County Council, subsequently waited on the Prime' Minister. Mr. Lyon, after remarking that he' had heard that the previous deputation had shifted its ground somewhat, said that, his. body and Mr. Brass's council, as well as the :Waipa County Council, objected to such bodies as automobile associations and chambers of commerce being given equal voting rights, with members of local bodies. The previous deputation had also waited upon the Minister before giving the local bodies interested ail opportunity of expressing their opinion. He believed that the first idea was to make a road with a concrete bed for the benefit of "scorchers" in motor-cars, and this whilst many back-Mock settlers were putting, up. with narrow tracks, which in many enses were a danger to life. Mr. Brass endorsed Mr. Lyon's remarks. * Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., pointed.out that the motorists had expressed a willingness to contribute to the upkeep of the roads. Ho agreed that the first needs were those of the back-blocks. Mr. Massey said that there were two sides to every question, but the requirements of the back-blocks must come first. He did not know what money would be available for expenditure on Public Works during the current year, but whatever was available would be spont where it was most urgently needed.