PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

THE MAIN ROADS,

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT

MAINTAIN THEM?

(From Our Special WELLINGTON, Sept. 6?J&/ The Hon. Mr Fraser (Minister of Public Works), stated yesterday that the Government is considering the advisability of taking over the maintenance of all main roads throughout the Dominion. The question of motorists taxing themselves specially to improve arterial roads was also touched on in the House, Mr G. W. Russell showing some anxiety to know if the Government's long expected motor tax would soon be announced. Under this arrangement, he remarked, the numerous motor-car owners of Christchurch would have the opportunity of paying to keep a remote road in Tauranga. The Hon. Mr Fraser said that motor car owners were willing to be taxed so long as the money was spent on the roads they used. "I don't know that it is a bad plan," continued the Minister. "If people were to tax themselves to make the roads comfortable to travel over what harm is there? But I doubt if it will benefit any backblocks roads." TITLE DEEDS ' AND FIRE RISKS. The big risk of large numbers of native title deeds being destroyed by fire, was referred to this afternoon by Mr Parata (Southern Maori member). He called the attention of the Minister of Public Works to the lack of fireproof safes in the native land offices at Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne and Wanganui. The titles to valuable lands were destroyed like ordinary files if a fire happened. He concluded: "Heaven help the titles to millions of pounds worth of native lands, because it would be necessary to go back thirty or sixty years to settle the matter!" The Minister replied that the Auckland native office had the use of a large strong room, and if the files were left outside that was a matter; which should be seen to. I