Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1920. GOOD ROADS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 19 February 1920, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1920. GOOD ROADS

Tll 111 importanee of good roads as a factor in national progress is not sufficiently realised in this country. Home idea of what is being done in America was given in a speech at Sydney the other day by Mr Ollier, visiting vice-president of the Studcbaker Corporation. Me was speaking at a meeting held “to inaugurate and further a movement tor go'od. roads,’’ Mr d. 1). Mit'/gerabi. 'Minister for .Local Movernment. was also present. Mr Ollier, in his opening speech, emphasise ] first the economic necessity of building good roads. Detailing the progress achieved from small beginnings in America, in (he fai-e of adverse eirmimstanees nid divided I‘ontrol. he showed tow plan'] were termed and reenter] for national props anda, giving the reasons why

|every man, woman, and child was essentially interested in good roads, how every pound spent on the work would return many pounds saved by the opening up of fresh territories, the attraction to them of new settlers, economic production of their resources, and the effective and rapid transit ol tin* products thus obtained to their markets. Tie showed how by this planned campaign ol educational propaganda. prejudice that existed between one section and another, the outcome of divided control and parochial outlook, was overcome, not because in tiie first instance the representatives of these small bodies of people were necessarily direetly influenced to change their viewpoint, but because the people themselves, interested in their own future, learnt to realist* that good roads to them in their own territory, and in all territories adjoining land leading to their markets. I meant money saved to them, [money made, and definite pro--1 greSS achieved. They deniaml- | e ( j good roads; they were wilding to pay for them. “To- ! day, ” he said, “I here are 250.- ■ 000 miles of such roads; to'morrow then* will he 2.-)00,000 \ miles of such roads, "because I (be initial business of proving by results Unit good roads pay the most handsome national dividends that aby country can have, is cumulative in its results. and an ever gathering, extending force that becomes finally a basic economic principle implanted in the minds of every person concerned in their own and their country’s business and success.” Mr Ollier further gave facts and figures which he. suggested would be of great assistance to the many live men who wore now so energetically taking up for good and all this question of good roads for Australia, and he then asked that the many big men present should permit him to sit back while they went ahead straight away and stated just, what was feeing done now and what whs proposed.

In the course of his remarks, I\lr J. D. Fitzgerald, Minister for Local Government, spoke at length (on what the Government had planned. to what extent they had been able to carry out those plans, and of his own efforts for and sympathy with Ihe good roads movement. He said that he and his colleagues had some while since formulated a complete proposition for the making of good roads throughout the State of Now South Wales; after long studying. and until tin 1 host advice obtainable, they had brought down to the House a Bill of the most comprehensive nature, containing GOO clauses, whereby the Government had proposed to take control of the construction of all roads, not superseding in any way the powers of the local shires and munieipalitics, but co-operating with them in every detail: obtaining the machinery, plant, and maintaining the service necessary both in application of money and means. Unfortunately, outside the metropolitan area, this plan, which, would undoubtedly have been the best ever formulated in this country. was defeated by the country districts by the very men whom it would most have benefited. Mr Arthur fCocks, jALL.A.. who followed with a. | fighting speech, supported his t colleague. Air Fitzgerald, in | every particular. Good roads jWe must have, said Mr Cocks. Ift is a commercial proposition to which every business man find every man who has the progress of our great country at heart is fully alive. It is estimated that £2.000.000 will ie“ required in this State to commence the work of reconstruction of our roads; but no | Government can go far ahead bif what the people arc odueat|ed up to want. When the people are prepared to give the Government authority they can borrow this money for tin’s purpose, and it is only by the pro-f-ess of planned educational propaganda that all the people can he made to see why they must pay for these good roads, that, when accomplished, will give returns a thousand-fold.