The Northland Age WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE MANGONUI COUNTY TIMES” “THE BAY OF ISLANDS TIMES” AND “THE NORTH AUCKLAND AGE.” THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1925. NATIONAL ROADS.

Northland Age, Volume 25, Issue 14, 30 July 1925, Page 4

The Northland Age WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE MANGONUI COUNTY TIMES” “THE BAY OF ISLANDS TIMES” AND “THE NORTH AUCKLAND AGE.”

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1925. NATIONAL ROADS.

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Speaking at Kaikohe recently, Mr. M. J. Swseney, the Country Party candidats for Bay of Islf nds advocated the nationaiisaion of all main roads and contended that it was unreasonable to rxpect sattlers in sparsely populatod counties to provide roads in addition to the capital required in their business. Main roads served a national purpose, were a national affair and should be paid for oat of the consolidated funds. After en-iwnfig tn-riy instances of b.i'k ni'- k lips due to lack ef roading tac.l ::js and stating that these settlers vyJhe had no access were paying” for roads they never gajyfSir. Sweeney statcilkkirf l.c coul 1 not see any wjy out for the northern countic s under the present rating system. Th; n>- n . u Id assume ils own responsibilities and the f,.rnr. i would tii n’ b able to apply Inaiself to piov .ding facilities for those who at present bad acme.

In this Mr. Sydney ..dvocates the ©niy fair so 1i.. 0n. As is well knawn the main object of tba mam highways schema is to prC? vide the counbry vv.lii arterial ,r*ads fit to carry modem traffic. Two thirds of the cos! of such roads is to be borne by the local authorities, and the balance by the Slate. But the cost ofjtonstrueting and maintaining first class roads is sueh as to make it impossible for the settlers along such roads to provide their share of the expenditure under the present allocation. In the Mangonui County setiltrs would find their needs adequately met with a much cheapei**oad than that demanded by the Highways Board, but the more costly road is demanded by non i -tepayers and tourists to whom the land they pass throu ih is merely scenery. Thus the main highways scheme throws on the settler the burden of presiding roads fit for joyriderslvhen his money might, as Mr. Swleney points out, be spent in providing decent access reads to farms.

The onlw way out, therefore, seems to be the declaration of main highways as national roads, constructed and maintained by the Government. It would be fair, of course, to ask settlers along these highways to contribute to their maintenance a sum equal to that contributed to their upkeep as county roads, before they, became main highways under the new scheme. It is not a fair thing to ask settlers to pay rates for roads ia excess of their needs, while other sections of the community escape lightly. All other Parliamentary candidates should bp asked to state their views on’the national roads question.