GREAT SOUTH ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15503, 9 January 1914, Page 8

GREAT SOUTH ROAD.

NEED FOE IMPROVEMENT. [BT TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Thursday. The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. A. E. Manning, who, during the Christmas holidays, motored to Auckland, is deeply impressed with the detriment to the Waikato caused by the state of the Great South Road, and he has approached the president of the Chamber of Commerce with a view to taking action to impress on the Government the need of giving this road, which is the only road route to the Waikato, Te Aroha, Rotorua, and southern part of the island, immediate attention. Mr. Manning points out that the run, which should not take more than 3£ hours, cannot be accomplished under five hours, and then is accompanied by considerable danger. "I consider," he says, "that a definite scheme should be drawn up by the different chambers of commerce and the automobile associations to be placed before the Government. It is no use asking the different local bodies through whose territory the road passes to construct and maintain it because in places where the road is at its worst the country is sparsely settled, and the settlers are sufficiently handicapped already by the want of roads to their holdings in these districts. This being the main south road and the only road route to Rotorua the Government should put it in good order. It could do it much better and at less expense than the local bodies or associations, as they have the machinery and would be able to get supplies of metal much cheaper than local bodies." As regards maintenance Mr. Manning suggests a tax on motor-cars to be spent on the upkeep of such main roads. There might be a little difficulty in adjusting the taxation, but he could see no reason why there should not be two taxes, one for cars plying for hire in town, and the other for touring cars. He considered that the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce should at once get into touch with the Auckland and other chambers and the automobile associations, and call a meeting in Hamilton to discuss the whole question.