ROADS AND RATING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 26 July 1918, Page 7

ROADS AND RATING

r roji MOTOR VEHICLES. 1 The annual report of tlie New Zealand Automobile Union says:— "It is hoped that some discussion will 1 take place at the animal general meeti. iiijj on tho nover-emling question ofroads „ and rating. It appears to bo quite recognised by the members ot local bodice, and by t'liu owners of motor-ears, that j an entirely new arrangement is fast becoming necessary for tho purpose ot pro- } viding funds for the maintenance and repair of roads, and the making of new roads. It is intended to bring beloro s tho meeting a suggestion that a comniitlee should be appointed for the purpose of going into this question and ot arranging anil holding a conference with representatives of the local bodies conI ferenee. The root of the difficulty jip- ■- pears to lie in the fact that, speaking i- generally, the expenditure on the. roads, r. at any rata in tho way of repairing and i maintaining, is furnished by tho ratepavors, whereas tho roads in all localiue-s, i- including those passing through an area V yielding no rates, nro traversed by motor-cars and motor lorries from any ' other parts of tho Dominion, banns !- tho main roads throughout the Dominion i- are being largely used by motor vehicles r for through tralHe, it is inevitable that v the time will soon come when in somo d form or anotlier these vehicles must contribute to the maintenance and repair U r these roads. This would involve material alteration in tho present system, and should include an alteration which would . give tn the owners of motor vehicles a representation on local bodies proportion- "• ate to their contribution?. '' "An alternative proposal, of course, i* -■ ilia! Ihe whole of tlm main roads should he taken over by Government or, what I would probably be better, by all '' pendent National Hoail Hoard. ! Ihe.-e ilillienllies in view it is obvious Umt II (he allien should endeavour b* bring within ii- fold all a.-'sociiiHons llirmtghcut both islands of Ihe Dominion, and '' to further Ihe formation of tion »li. iv iio'ii --u.'li now _exW."