KING COUNTRY ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 13

KING COUNTRY ROADS.

AN OVERBURDENED COUNTY. FINANCIAL HELP ' WANTED. - EXPENSIVE MAIN HIGHWAY. \ [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. Some of the \Vailom9 County Council's troubles over arterial and other roads were explained to the House of Representatives this evening by tho member for the district, Mr. J. C. Rolleston. The member recalled that the Minister for Finance, tho Hon. W. Nosworthy, had said this week that 110 would put his foot down upon advances to local bodies. "I am sure," he said "that tho Minister does not mean to put his foot down 011 struggling county councils, but only upon town bodies." 1

Mr. Rolleston suggested that in addition to liberal treatment by way of loans these country authorities should be given a subsidy of £2 for every £1 raised for road and bridge construction. To meet land deterioration good road access was badly needed. The Waitomo county was unfortunate in that it included thirty miles of the, To Kuiti-New Plymouth main road. It had spent, ( a large sum on putting this road into thorough order, and its peoplo wero now rated at from 5d to 7d in tho pound, chiefly account of roads. However, this highway, was being rapidly knocked to pieces by vehicles which belonged to people who lived outside the county and paid 110 rates. As it happened, by improving the road the coarity had made its maintenance harder, said Mr. Rolleston, Formerly one section ot the road was unmetalled and impassable in winter. Now there •was a steady stream of traffic all the year round, and tho road was being ruined. The Main Highways Board was finding one-third of the maintenance cost, but this was not enough to repair tho damage. The cost of a macadam road up to the board's requirement would be £26,000, and that of a bitumen road £45,000. To make such roads the county would have to double its indebtedness and more. In his view the ratepayers living near enough to make actual use of the road should be required to pay a fair sum for its adequate maintenance, and the Main Highways Board should pay the rest. The' main road ho had mentioned presented an immediate and very urgent problem, and he hoped that tho Government would deal with it.

PRODUCE FOR ENGLAND.

SLOW STEAMER SERVICES. THE NEED FOR "SPEEDING UP." [by telegram, —special reporter. ] WELLINGTON. Friday. The need for a quicker steamer transport service between New Zealand and England was referred to to-day by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, in the Legislative Council. He urged business men and others to make representations for speedier communication. "We have had no improvement in our steamer communication with England for over forty years," said Sir Thomas. "It was a six-weeks service forty years ago and it is practically, with very few exceptions, a six-weeks service to-day. Continuing, he said that if it was possible to land produce in England in thirty days it would react to the benefit of the Dominions. It was quite time the produce interests in New Zealand got together with a view to obtaining ait improvement. He had discussed tha matter with the shipping people in England, /but they bad pointed out that exporters in New Zealand did not seem to care how long their produce took en route as long as they got it carried.