HORSELESS ROADS.

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 16

HORSELESS ROADS.

Mr Balfour’s suggestion that the motor-ear would one day prove an important factor in relieving the congestion of London’s population received notable support at the National Liberal Club.

The occasion was a lecture by Mr J. W. Bonn, L.C.C., on “Locomotion in London,” at which Sir Alexander Binnic presided. In liis introductory remarks the late chief engineer cf the London County Council, after referring to the great changes which electricity was about to effect in London’s means of locomotion, expressed bis personal belief that London before long would be blessed with an organised system of motor vehicles on its streets for tlie use of tlie public.

Hie worst enemy of tlie road bed, lie pointed out, was horse traction. Horses’ hoofs destroyed any pavement that could | hud much more rapidly than wheeled tiaffie alone. IMotors, on the other hand, would only wear away tlie roads smoothly. He looked forward to the time when the -streets would bo freed from the road-breaking horse and its insanitary concomitants.

+ 1 1 /' ' ® Cl . in 111 * HS address argued that it the provision of locomotive facilities in London were left wholly in private hands only the populous districts would be connected., because these alone brought profits to the promotor. The real necessity was to open up the less populated districts in order to relieve the congestion in other places, and Parliament should seo to it that the needs of the whole population should be pro",l,cr tl,an "*