BETTER ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23084, 8 July 1938, Page 13

BETTER ROADS

ACTION ESSENTIAL

EXTRAVAGANCE DENIED HON. R. SEMPLE'S STAND MORE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday "The action that is being taken by the Public Works Department to improve the roads throughout New Zealand is absolutely essential in view of tho great increase that lias taken placo in the amount of motor traffic," said tho Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Seinple, speaking in tho Address-in-Replv debate in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. Semplc answered charges of extravagance that had been made by members and declared that the safety campaign which was being carried out would bo useless unless it were founded on a good roading system. "Speaking earlier in this debate the member for Clutha, Mr. J. A. Roy, said that tho Public Works Department had spent £200,000 on 0110 mile of road in his constituency," Mr. Semple said. "He later confirmed that statement three times, but afterward came to me to make a personal explanation. That was no good to me. His original statement had gone out to the people of this country and 1 think it must be refuted in tho same way.

"The actual amount spout on that piece of road to date is £SIOO, so that he is just £195,000 out. Two bridges to cost £3600 have yet to bo built and the final cost altogether will be £9150. The member for Clutha also said the road was useless, but it is a main highway and we are trying to bring the main highways of this country up to a standard." The Minister said that Mr. H. G. Dickie (Opposition—Patea) had alleged that there had been extravagant expenditure on a road in his district. Mr. Dickie: Will you give me a return of the money spent there? Mr. Semple: 1 will give a full account of every copper I have spent since I have been Minister of Public Works. No Apology for Actions Mr. Dickie: You have never seen that job. Mr. Semple: I saw it just a month ago. New Zealand was now the second highest motorised country in the world, continued the Minister, with an increase of 30,000 motor-cars in the past year, and an attempt was being made to reduce the number of fatal road accidents. It was no use tightening up the law and punishing people more heavily if the roads were faulty. It was a tribute to what had already been done that, in spite of a 30 per cent increase in motor traffic in this countn\ there had been no increase in the number of fatal accidents on the roads. He would apologise to no one for trying to improve the roading system of Now Zealand.