PROBLEM OF BETTER ROADS

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 25

PROBLEM OF BETTER ROADS

EXPANSION LEAGUE LUNCHEON. ADDRESS BY MR L. M. SANDSTON. The special feature of the Otago Expansion League luncheon on Friday was an interesting address by Mr I, M Sandston, a ChristeWh engineer, on the problem of how to provide better roads. Mr r. K. Sargood (in the absence of the president, Mr C. Todd) presided over a good attendance of members. Mr Sandston, who has just returned from America, where ho spent a few years in order to make an exhaustive study of road engineering, pointed out that the problems of the road had been altered by the advent of the motor car. France was particularly fortunate in the possession of a good system of road construction, and that fact was responsible for saving Paris in 1914 by enabling reinforcements to be rushed up mi time to turn the tide against the Germans in the battle of the Marne. For the same reason the French were able successfully to defend The National Council of Roads and Bridges was responsible for the construction and administration of roads in that country, and the whole work was intelligently planned and executed. In England the road system was much more complex, and too many authorities had jurisdiction over one length of road. In the United States vast sums had been spent in road constructions and administration, but bribery and corruption had been responsible r or big sums having been squandered. In 1916 an Act was passed which made provision for the establishment of a fund for improved methods of road construction and a bureau to control the distribution and expenditure of the money. Since then the money had been wisely expended, and America," like France, had now a splendid road system. Valuable assistance was given to Ihe controlling authority by national associations and courses in road engineering work were given in the universities. The speaker said he would like to see the matter taken up by the Now Zealand Universities, and he would also like to see all public bodies interested in the question unite for the purpose of devoting their energies towards the establishment of a better system of road construction. Pressure should bo brought to bear on the Government. He had spoken to the Acting Prime Minister on the matter, pointing out the need for an intelligent system of road construction, and Sir James Allen had in effect replied that when the people wanted it they could get it. Sir George Fenwick moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker for his interesting, informative, and excellent address, although he had hoped (he said) to have heard more in regard to the practical side of roadmaking. He had seen the roads in France, which he considered were supreme in their excellence. The Otago Expansion League and other publio bodies were deserving of •thanks for taking the road question in hand and he hoped that before long reforms would bo introduced. He believed we were en the eve of bettor things.