GOOD ROADS.

Northern Advocate, 2 August 1919, Page 3

GOOD ROADS.

The Romans left an indelible mark in Great Britain in the great roads they established, thereby proving their genius for colonisation and em-pire-building. The cause of the decay of the great people is another story and need not be dealt with now: but it may be noted that the goodroad policy had no part in the decay. Had the energy and foresight represented by the still existing Roman roads been oontimied, 'Roman" would still be tlie magic and potent word symbolising all that is best in Bmpire-building , . One must admit that in opening up New Zealand, there was lacking , that sound statesmanlike policy tihat made the full utilisation of nature's resources possible. Settlers tvyere given blocks of land in the heart of the bush accessible only by a rough track. They were reduced to the necessity of destroying most valuable timber simply because, under the immediate circumstances, it offered most determined resistance to either grazing or agricultural development. Many a settler can tell a- story of the wholesale destruction of bush that in these days would be worth thousands of pounds. It is easy to be wise after an unfortunate event; and we can now see that colonisation should have proceeded first of all in tine direction of opening , up great highways, settling the farmer as the land was opened up, and making provision for the conservation iof the most valuable timber. However, it is evident that the blunders of the past are being recognised and one can see in the Good Roads Association a resolve to set on foot a vigorous forward movement to rectify these errors. That a. motor car journey in (winter should be practically impossible to Waipu from Whangarei, a distance of about thirty miles, and to Tangiteroria (21 miles), en route to Dargaville, is an eloquent argument for a determined policy to remove the reproach to our district. The improvements already on the way must be pushed forward with resolution. In another column an article on the benefite of good roada to the country and town alike, well seta forth the urgent reasons for a united policy that leaves no room for a dissipation of energy that spells stagnation- If for no higher reason, it is unquestionably imperative that a good roads movement should be initiated and energetically pursued as a good paying proposition.