A ROADING INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17641, 30 November 1920, Page 4

A ROADING INQUIRY.

The report of the HelensvilleHamilton main road commission is an indirect, reproach against the Government for its failure to enunciate and enforce a roading policy. The Public Works Statement promised a policy which was to give the State control of the main roads and bring them up to the standard of modern traffic requirements. With this new organisation of road maintenance was to be associated a tax on motor vehicles. Between the presentation of the Public Works Statement and the rising of Parliament this policy was lost or subordinated to the convenience of homesick members. The Helensville-Hamilton road commission voices the public demand for the passage of legislation to relieve local bodies of impossible roading responsibilities. It finds that without assistance the local authorities between Helensville and Hamilton cannot improve the condition of the main road to any extent, or- maintain it in a satisfactory manner. With this conclusion there will be general agreement. The evidence laid before the commission that the road is an intolerable burden on the local bodies was too conclusive to admit of question. There are many other roads in the same unsatisfactory condition, and the prospect of a forward roading policy depends entirely upon action- by the Government. The argument of the commission that the main roads cannot be maintained entirely out of the proposed motor tax is sound, but the outlook is rather more hopeful than the commission suggests. It estimates the motorists' contribution at £86,000, but the New Zealand Automobile Union has already put forward a scheme to yield £166-000. which will pay interest and sinking fund on a substantial loan. With economies in construction the motor N tax should at least form a valuable nucleus for the improvement of such roads as that between Helensville and Hamilton. It is not creditable to the Dominion that so important a thoroughfare should fall so far below the minimum requirements of modern traffic. A concrete highway is the ideal to be aimed at, but as the commission sensibly remarks, economy must be studied as well as efficiency. The province would be well satisfied with an 18ft. tar-sealed thoroughfare with concrete from the Whau Bridge to Tamaki Bridge. This is the vision of the commission, but its materialisation strictly depends upon action by the general Government.