THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1926. THE PROBLEM OF THE ROADS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19695, 23 January 1926, Page 10

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1926. THE PROBLEM OF THE ROADS.

The function which falls to the Main Highways Board can scarcely bo regarded as enviable. It would not be wise to count upon the Board’s ability to effect improvements in the roads of the country that will march pari passu with the ever-growing need for improvements. The Board should bo fairly well inured by this time to woeful tales of hardship and embarrassment unfolded to it by deputations in different localities. The South Island is expected to consider itself fortunate, if wo may judge by the chairman’s remarks, in that the Board lias found the opportunity of paying it ev.vi a cursory visit of inspection. The trend of the discussion in which ■Esiubtvrs of the Board were engaged this nwik with representatives of local bodies in the vicinity of Dunedin was s«ch as to emphasise the existence of by no dims satisfactory general conditions. The j connected with the main.ten- j

ance of roads, carrying a heavy traffic, by local bodies whose resources are so limited that they are unable to contribute even a small proportion of the cost of adequate up-keep is not brought any the nearer to solution by reason of the Board’s circumscribed activities. Seemingly it is to be regarded as insoluble in present circumstances. Time was when, it could be effectively grappled with because the traffic that had to be considered was local in character, the owners of vehicles using them, as a rule, in their own districts only. But times have changed and vehicles also, and road traffic wears an entirely different complexion from that of even ten years ago. The übiquitous motor car invades what were once the most sequestered routes. The motor vehicles registered throughout the Dominion at the end of last year numbered 123,396. Moreover, the range of vhe motor vehicle is practically unlimited. Owners of cars travel in them wherever they can find roads to travel on. In Dunedin at the present time there are motor cars from all parts of New Zealand. The new conditions have so revolutionised the character of local government in relation to the maintenance of the roads that a new situation has been established, creating a problem which must sooner or later be regarded as national in its character. The case of the roads on Otago Peninsula that was brought before the Highways Board this week illustrates very well the plight of local bodies burdened with responsibilities in maintenance of roads with which, for lack of revenue, they are totally unable to cope. The Portobello road has become a route so popular that it is estimated that it is traversed by well over two hundred motor vehicles daily. The requirements of the traffic are such as would only be adequately met by a road that would be a very great improvement upon the one which at present exists. But, even with the assistance which it has had from the Dunedin City Council, the local authority is at its wit’s ends to grapple with the obvious needs of the situation. The proposal that the road boards on the Peninsula should amalgamate with a .view to constituting their districts a county has been the outcome, the possibility of its carrying weight with the Highways Board being, of course, recognised. But this is a proposal concerning which opinion among the residents on the Penin- . sula is divided. It was a strong appeal which was made to the Highways Board for its active assistance in dealing with this question of the Peninsula roads, and if is satisfactory to have had some indication that the Board was impressed by -the representations that were xna'-ie to it. Piecemeal improvements may not be of much permanent value, but they are indispensable. It is of some interest to note how the taxation of motor vehicles introduced in 1909 with a view to placing on the users of the roads the burden of improving them lias worked out in the Old Country. The tax has grown beyond all expectations, and it is estimated that the income of the Road Fund will this year amount to taore than £16,000,000. The grants to local bodies from the fund last year exceeded £9.500,000, while the estimated cost of work to be done approximates £22*000,000. No matter is more contentious than the diversion of any part of the money raised by motor taxation from the Road Fund. When the present form of tax was adopted a pledge was given to motorists on the subject. “But the yield is now so large,” observes the Daily Telegraph, “that the question arises, how much is reasonably required to put and keep the roads in a high state of efficiency? The yield ought to be adjusted so that the Road Fund receives enough money but not more than it can spend profitably. . . • The practical question is whether the Ministry of Transport can employ the much larger sums which will become available as the number of vehicles on the streets increases, and simultaneously the schemes of road reconstruction and improvement reach completion.” In New Zealand it is at least not necessary, unfortunately, to .raise considerations such as these.