Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1937. TRANSPORT AND ROADS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19335, 27 May 1937, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1937. TRANSPORT AND ROADS

In the address which lie delivered at To Araroa last evening Mr. Semplc was able to indicate sonic of the many difficulties connected with modern transport and flic proposals of the Government for removing or reducing lliom. In his comprehensive and instructive review he revealed the many aspects which demand consideration and showed that the problems had been the subject of careful investigation, it is desirable that there

should be a morp general appreciation of the changes that have taken place

in comparatively recent years, because, otherwise, it is difficult to grasp all that is involved, what has been done already, and what remains lo lie done in the future. The -Minister recognises this point when lie explains that in 1014 there were only 20,000 motor vehicles in the Dominion whereas to-day there are 2. r >o,ooo. This fact alone has changed the whole

aspect of the transport question and has vitally affected various other phases tif the life of the community. in the first place, the whole method of providing and maintaining roads has undergone a drastic change, bul equally far-reaching has been the effect on industry by the enormous diversion of expenditure to the purchase and upkeep of motor vehicles, the amazing increases in speed, (lie congestion of traffic resulting from increased mobility, and, not by any means the least important, the greater danger to users of the roads. In little, more than 20 yenrs (lie people have had to adjust themselves to these alterations, and the real cause for wonder is that so much has boen

accomplished in so short a time. It is true, undoubted!)', that much remains to be done, but it is important that the commendable record of past achievement should not be disregarded. In no other direction have, there been such revolutionary changes as in transport, and whatever defects may remain in the steps taken to meet them, common fainies.s demands due recognition of the amazing progress that is evident in everv direction. V

One of the most outstanding of the immediate difficulties is the task of attempting to maintain a reasonable balance in public works undertakings, not only as regards the financial aspect, .but also between one district and another. In travelling between Auckland arid Gisbomo, the Minister has seen the two extremes of roading conditions and he cannot fail to have been impressed by the lavish provision that has been made for city dwellers and the contrasting neglect of those in the country districts. From'Auckland to liotorua there is not a mile of highway calling for adverse criticism. The greater pail or it is already surfaced, it is of ample width, and bad bends are conspicuous by their absence, Indeed, vast sums are being spent On cliininaiing bends which, in this part of the Dominion at least, would no! oven be noticed. Between Rotoriia arid Whakalane, .similar work is in progress, much of the beautiful scenery

of the Hotomn hill being destroyed in order to provide, not a highway, but a speedway. In the southern end of the Bay of Plenty, Mr. Semple was given some idea of what the settlers in more remote localities have to contend with. On the so-called main highway from Opotiki to To Araron lie saw numerous unbridgcl rivers and streams which made the road unusable to ordinary traflic during the greater part of the year, while the ioad itself i.s invariably narrow and winding. This contrast in conditions cannot have escaped the notice of so observant a Minister, and Mr Semple will surely realise that the decision to proceed with the work on the East Coast road is more than warranted and that nothing should be permitted to delay its prosecution.

The position between Auckland and Te Araroa is more or less lypieal of that throughout the Dominion. The great bulk of the roading expenditure of recent years has been concentrated in districts near the main centres of population and the rural areas have boon largely neglected. It is possible, of course, to defend this policy on the ground that the Government is catering for the largest number of people, but it must never be overlooked that the people of both town and country are vitally dependent upon the maintenance of tho primary industries. For this rea.son it is imperative that the Government should do everyt'hing in its power to increase the amenities of country life and to stimulate the settlement and production of the land. Good roads are one means of achieving this aim and the (irst determination of the Minister should be to ensure that reasonable access is provided to all areas of remote settlement before further .sums are expended on effecting unnecessary and costly improvements to already good roads adjacent to towns and cities that are fully served by oflicient and regular rail transport. Mr. Semple has already spoken of the need for a fiveyear roading programme, and this policy is to be commended, but it is necessary that the programme shoutn provide for the backblacks settlers in preference to city dwellers and tourists. He has said, also, that the plans of the department should not be subject to political control, and here again he is unquestionably right, for in every direction there is evidence of roading expenditure being governed, not by the real needs and best interests of the Dominion, but by the number of electors who are likely to benefit from tho use of State funds.