NATIONS HIGHWAYS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 167, 12 July 1918, Page 5

NATIONS HIGHWAYS.

"SOMETHING FOR NOTHING."

A deputation "~*"to two Ministers at Wellington .'yesterday ' morning put in an old-time plea for a nationlisation of arterial roadji, says the Post. The Hon. T. M. Wilford,. after a sympathetic reference to .the difficult position of some - local bodies, said that ho would not advocate the principle that local bodies, in general, should not help themselves. Ho would not encourage' a spoon-feeding policy of getting everything from the ■ Government. *- Sir William Fraser said that tim. question of State control of the maiivtenance of main roads was a matter for legislation. The Government would not do the work out of ordinary funds; no Government would do ■that. The great bulk of the cost must come either; by rates or taxes, on the lands benefited. Every acre of land would increaso its value by such improvements. Why should such- an increase be presented 'to the landowner? As- an. example of how some local [bodies tried to- evade all liability- for 'public works, .Sir William, mentioned one case. A road' was formed and metalled by the Government, but during two years the local body had not employed l a single surfaceman': in twoyears not one shovel had' beon used, on the Toad.