NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1919. GOOD ROADS.

Northern Advocate, 15 August 1919, Page 2

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1919. GOOD ROADS.

Registered transmission through the post as a newspaper.

This evening an Tipoitant confer ence will assemble in Auckland for the purpose of discussing- the g-eod roads question in its various phases. Invitations have been sent out to members of Parliament, representatives of local bodies, chambers of commerce and other institutions to be present, and it H expected that there will be a gathering of gentlemen well qualified to speak for the various interests of the Dominion. It is proposed to submit the following resolutions to the conference:— (1) The Imperative necessity of the early completion of an arterial highway connecting the city of Auckland with the Waikato and with the Northland Peninsula, and of invoking . Government aid for that purpose. (2) The need, in .the interests of the Dominion, of a more co-or-dinated and efficient system of administering , and financing the main roads of IN'ew Zealand based broadly on the lines of the Victorian Counlry Roads Board Act. One of these resolutions, it will be seen, deals particularly with the condition of the districts north and south of Auckland, while the other has a anore general appjication. Whangarei is directly affected by both of these resolutions. The Great North Road, for instance, has caused the city councils throughout the Northern Peninsula considerable anxiety regarding its maintenance, and many a riding account has presented a depressing aspect as .1. result. As we are involved in the purely distiict aspect of the good rout!:* question, so we are also involved in the wirier and anore comprehensive application of the movement to the. whole of the Dominion. So far as we are locally concerned there is no question of doubt that the main+emmee of main roads is a most imporrant one for the county. In some parts of New Zealand it will be found that the upkeep of. main roads bee.ones a heavy charge, principally on 1-count of the volume of traffic. In such cases these roads are "main' in the true sense of the termi They carry the converged traffic to recognised centres. Their maintenance cost is the direct result of constant heavy use, and while ' revenue may be derived from the rates upon adjoining properties the proportion between receipts and expenditure may not leave the margin necessary io keep the road in proper order, Ju the case of these roads every traveller becomes a grumbler and every grumbler eventually becomes on agitator behind and before the local authority, urging and compelling repairs. It will, therefore, be found thai- in the longrun aoy road which Is compelled to carry extra heavy, traffl-? will help to work out its own saltation, The reason for that is to be found in the fact that the broadening of the sphere of use of any main road also extends the desire of who wish to use it. But there is the other class of main road, vi?.., the road which serves as a route from one dis trict to another yet passes through miles of practically non revenue pro ducing country. Thus, in the North,

we find what we term, pit main roads passing through stretches of country which do not contribute one penny piece to the revenue of tthe controlling local bodies. With unproductive Native, Government, and private land along either side of a main road, it is almost impossible for any local body to keep up the cos* of mainten ancew The through traffic from other districts does not contribute and the upkeep is therefore narrowed down to a purely local charge. As it is quite impossible to collect the requisite revenue the main road has to take its chance, with the result that the main roads are in many cases serious drawbacks to progress. The position of the Wheki Valley section of the main road between the east and west coasts is an example. The road between Wh°,ngarei and Dargaiville is one of the most important North of Auckland, yet for many months of the year it is useless be cause of the gap at the Wheki. This impassable section of the thoroughfare exists simply because its construction and maintenance is narrowed down to a local charge wh'eh would fall upon a few settlers. In one case the rateable value would be insufficient to secure the necessary revenue and in the other it would be questionable justice to make such a charge upon the purely local properties when the road vould be principally used for through traffic. The Wheki Valley and Gr<*at North Roads are amongst many others in the Dominion blocking progrejas and it is to be sincerely hoped ill at- the conference this evening will be able to evolve some sound comprehensive scheme to place before Parliament. It is recognised on all side? that prompt action is necessary and the composition of the conference should place it in a position to offer guidance.