MODERN ROADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 2065, 10 January 1925, Page 5

MODERN ROADS.

THE DAY OF THE MOTOR. AMERICA FAVOURS CONCRETE. With heavy motor-bus services covering 200 miles daily, and rounding the well-graded curves of concrete roads at a speed up to 40 miles an hour, the motoring developments of the United States and Canada are of more than passing interest to New Zealanders in general (remarks the New Zealand Herald). As chairman of the Franklin County Council, -Mr F. Claude Motion, who returned to Auckland by the Marama from Sydney, after a long tour abroad, made inquiries while in America concerning roading methods for handling modern transport.

The facilities provided on the Pacific Coast in the form of main concrete and bitumen highways have led, stated Mr Motion, to a special development in motor services. From sevenseater touring cars evolution has carried motor services to the use of big char-a-bancs for distance running. These vehicles maintained extensive services, running in some cases up to 200 miles a day in stages. They were as comfortable as trains.

"For the main highways, tracks 18ft to 20ft wide have been laid," continued Mr Motion. "On the Pacific Coast concrete is favoured and engineers declare that it alone will .stand the strains imposed. All new construction work is being done in concrete, reinforced concrete being used in low-lying spots where the foundation has not been consolidated for any period.. In the eastern states, where the raw material is more readily available, bitumen is advocated by some engineers, but in the west and middle states the opinion seems established that only concrete will stand the strain. After American experience H can be seen that New Zealand has a tremendous task ahead in mod cruising her roading system, but that it will pay by improving domestic transport and attracting outside tourists is quite unquestionable."

The strictness with which traffic regulations were enforced, added Mr Motion, was noticeable on all American roads. In rounding curves no car would dare "cut in," but would always keep to its proper side. On many curves white centre lines were marked.