Heavy Traffic Problem Must Be Solved Soon

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1949, Page 5

Heavy Traffic Problem Must Be Solved Soon

DUNEDIN, Tue. (P.A.).—No sane and permanent solution of the heavy traffic problem will be possible till the authorities who build and maintain roads are given some control over the loads using them. This opinion was offered by Mr H. Murray Reid, engineer to the Rangitikei County Council, in a paper presented to the conference of the New Zealand Institute of County Engineers in Dunedin. “The time has arrived when one authority should ba responsible for both sides,” Mr Reid said.

“And until such time as this takes place, there will always be friction.” Roads and heavy transport constituted one of the most vital problems facing the country today, stated Mr Reid’s report. MUST BE FACED The time had arrived when these questions must be faced and decisions made. There had been little progress in spite of various conferences, the only thing agreed upon being that roads had deteriorated and extra finance was needed to bring them up to standard. There was no progress either in Government policy, and at the moment neither the Main Highways Board nor local bodies had the necessary finance. From time to time urgent requests were made for increased production, but should the country’s lines of communication fail, of what use would increased production be? RATES INCREASING With local body rates increasing, and some of them had reached their statutory maximum, it was apparent

that the situation was completely out of hand. . .. Necessary reconstruction work, ho said, was of great magnitude, and until such time as a definite ruling was given on the limits of h'cavy traffic and axle loading, it was' impossible for any local body to plan new works economically. It was unfortunate that the railways could not cope with the business offering, as this had thrown a great burden on the main highways. Finance at present available to counties was entirely inadequate, the paper stated, and with increased costs and the £1 worth only 10/-, it was impossible to do more work than before the war. FINANCE ESSENTIAL A.dditional finance was absolutely essential and it appeared that the only so'T'ces available were petrol and motor taxation. More finance could also be obtained from users of roads provided the whole of motor taxation went to xaaialea* , ar.ee. it