The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1936. ARTERIAL ROADS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 November 1936, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1936. ARTERIAL ROADS

The new policy of the Government to adopt State highways as a soie charge on the Highways Board fund, is a policy stroke which should be of very general benefit to New Zealand in leading up to a uniform standard of road for the Dominion. Some 2,241 miles in the North Island, and 1681 miles in th© South Island, are being so decclared, a total of 3922 miles. The benefit to Westland County* will be realised when it is indicated some 290 milee of road are affected, involving the sections from Tereinakau to Welieka and from Otira Gorge to Kumara. This' is* the largest section in any county, due of course to the configuration of the district, which is the largest and longest area under county ", government. The County Council at its meeting yesterday, expressed pleasure and gratification at the effect of the policy, which will free the 'Council of a large annual liability hitherto incurred in contributing to the maintenancei of the main highway and in special contributions to constructional work. The removal of the large liability which has been current for several years,, 1 'will be a relief at a time when there j is a demand for considerable expenditure in connection with flood damage, | and other new works for which the Council is pledged to make contributions. Nevertheless, it should permit, .also, a general road improvement for the backblock areas. Nowadays, with the timber traffic using the roads so largely for transport purposes, including the haulage of logs to scattered mills, there are very few of'the isolated Toads which escape the heavy usage referred to, and there must be increased liability to the local body in that‘respect. The settlement roads can be improved also, to facilitate traffic. While sealing may not Irecome general, the macadam roads can be improved in standard. The Highways Board it is interesting to note, has ordered a special fleet of road graders for patrolling the State highways and keeping the roads in shape and clear of pot-holes. Evidently 7 the engineers realise the practical value of the road grader as a useful tool for road maintenance, which might be taken as a tip by the local body for its future policy in road maintenance, At the present Westland County is receiving more attention to. its reading than at any previous time, a'fact which indicates the realisation and appreciation of its undoubted future. Cut off for so long, it was subject to much general neglect, despite the persistent appeals made. Promises were often made, as witness the promise to give South Westland a first class road at. the time the railway 7 extension was stopped in 1911. A quarter of a century lias passed before there was the practical steps to honour th© promise. Having waited so patiently 7 , the settlers concerned will be the more grateful for what they are now to receive, and will give the credit where it is due. The opening of Westland by essential reading was a. plank in local politics since the days of the. first rush, and it remains a necessity so that the resources of the district may be recovered, and by 7 the enterprise ami. development contribute to the general prosperity 7 of the Dominion. The new policy 7 is a great boon for Westland.