UPKEEP OF ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 12

UPKEEP OF ROADS.

INCREASE OF MOTOR TRAFFIC THE QUESTION OF TAXATION. SUGGESTION OF INCREASE. if [BY TELEGRAPH, —SPECIAL REPORTER.] TUAKAU, Tuesday. The road maintenance problem was referred to by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, in a statement to-day. Discussing the question as it affected county ratepayers Mr. Coates said motor.vehicles unfortunately did not restrict themselves to the 6400 miles of main highways, but they travelled over the whole 48,000 miles of roads in New Zealand. Since June, 1924, motor vehicles in thf Dominion had more than doubled, and the rate of expenditure for maintenance per mile of main highway had increased from £sl 7s a mile in 1924 to approxi mately £lO5 a mile in 1927. The relation between the increase in motor vehicles and the increase in the road maintenance cost was obvious. In' 192-. the Highways Board paid 33 per cent, of the actual cost of maintenance and it was now paying 60 per.cent. Reviewing the increase in the maintenance cost of mam highways during the past two years, as compared with the crease in the number of motor vehicl registered, Mr. Coates said from March 1925, to March, 1926, 33,578 new potor vehicles were put into operation. The cost of maintenance of main highways in the same period increased by £107,4-»o or an increase of almost exactly £5 per motor vehicle. The corresponding figures for 1926-27 were 29,530 motor vehicles and £180,817,. representing an increased expenditure of almost exactly £6 per motor vehicle. It was logical to deduce, therefore, that for every new vehicle which went on the wad £5 or £6 further taxation should be found. The. present taxation of £3 per motor . vehicle was obviously insufficient. .