ROADS IN CONCRETE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17110, 15 March 1919, Page 9

ROADS IN CONCRETE.

ATTITUDE OF MINISTER. PROTEST BY ASSOCIATION. Opposition by the Minister for Public Works to the construction of concrete roads in country districts was disclosed in a communication received by the Good Roads Association at its last meeting. This information was contained in a letter from the Turua branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, in which it was stated that £500 had been subscribed locally to construct a piece of concrete road "18ft wide through the township of Turua, and that application for a Government subsidy had been refused, the reason given, as shown by the Minister's letter, being'mat concrete roads must be far too expensive for country districts to indulge in. ~, It was resolved that, while the association was only concerned with administration, exception must be taken to the Minister's reply, as experience in other countries showed that concrete roads must ba. adopted to a large extent, even in country j The president and secretary were appointed to give evidence on behalf of the association before the Industries Com-j mittee. , ' Tho Auckland branch of the Farmers Union sought the support of the association in urging the Government to lay down various types of permanent road surface on the Kangiriri hills when the contemplated improvements were being carried out. In view of the ActingPrime Minister's statement that the Government would not construct a road over tho Rangiriri hills, but that the Engineer-in-Chief would visit the locality in the future to select a route for a deviation, the association decided to advise the Farmers' Union that it would be desirable to defer the matter. It was decided to hold a conference in Wellington during the next Parliamentary session. It was also decided that Parliamentary candidates be interrogated regarding their attitude toward the goodroads movement.