VICTORIA KNOWN IN AUSTRALIA AS “GOOD ROAD" STATE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6756, 8 November 1928, Page 10

VICTORIA KNOWN IN AUSTRALIA AS “GOOD ROAD" STATE

Revenue for Work Raised From Grants and Motor Car Registration Fees

MELBOURNE, Evidence of the fact that the Government of Victoria is alive to the necessity for providing good roads is contained in an announcement made recently that for the year 1927-28, the Government road construction authority, the Country Roads Board, had spent £2,191,000 on this work. Victoria now has longer stretches of firstclass main roads than any other state of the Commonwealth, and it has become known as the “good road state.” For the purposes of the board, roads arc classified under three main heads—state highways, main roads and developmental roads—and the amounts expended on each respectively for the year were: £672,840, £777,309 and £670,448. Revenue for the purpose of road work is raised from motor registration fees,' charges against municipalities and state and Commonwealth grants. Of the total amount spent, motor registration fees contributed £796,912, which was raised from the 133/100 motor vehicles registered in the state.

Many tributes have been paid in the last few years to the work of tho Country Ronds Board, and motorists are now feeling that they arc receiving something iu return for tho amount's which they pay in registration fees.

The board recently suffered a loss by the passing of its chairman, William W. Colder, who for many years was a tireless worker in this branch of state service. It was largely as the result of his efforts that Victoria now has so many good roads, and it has been decided as a mark of respect to his memory to name the MclbourncGcelong road —a 46-milc stretch of perfect highway—tho Caldcr Highway.