MAIN HIGHWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1923, Page 11

MAIN HIGHWAYS

AND MOTORS VERSUS RAILWAYS.

Asked by Colonel Allen Bell (Bay of Islands) when the report of the proposed tribunal regarding the question of motor v. railway transport throughout the Dominion is to be tabled, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) stated in the House of Representatives yesterday that all new railroad construction or extension was at present submitted for minute investigation by the Public Works, Railways, and Agriculture Departments,, and in., future the Main Highwaiys Board' would investigate as well. By next session it was hoped to table a very .comprehensive and useful report on the subject matter.

Colonel Bell also wanted to know whether the Government would seriously consider the question of instituting a new system of finance as. between..the public bodies and ,the State so as to: enable the'"forriier to-meet the require:: meuts of the new motor-transport system, otherwise many of the puWic bodies would be practically ruined. ■. ;° •■■ "The Government will be only too glad io. consider, any. proposals. which..may. be put forward in the direction indicated," replied Mr. Coates. "The main-high-ways scheme of finance should afford a considerable measure of relief, as far as main highways are concerned. Mean-, time it may not be out of place to point, out that in many cases local bodies fail j to exercise their power to regulate this traffic, particularly as regards limiting weight and restricting traffic ■ which is, specially injurious ■to roads. '•■ Motor', [ transport has doubtless come to stay,i but that is no reason why it should be; allowed, without regulation or. restrict [ tion, to smash up. roads-not yet constructed to a standard to carry the traffic -which has been allowed upon. them. It is simply an economic waste to allow roads to be destroyed for the. sake of a | slightly cheaper carriage' rate by 'motorlorry while-the road lasts. When the cost of repairing and replacing the roads j destroyed: by motor transport is considered it wjll.be found that a great deal of ) the supposed cheapness exists, only in the. ! imagination." . ■ ■• :- . ;