ARTERIAL ROADS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 22, 19 March 1918, Page 6

ARTERIAL ROADS.

CENTRAL BOARD SUGGESTED.

“The reading question in New Zealand is of such importance that it is high time special steps were taken in respect to the formation of an arterial road board,” said Mr J. B. Clarkson, managing director of the firm of Messrs Hope, Gibbons and Sons and J. B. Clarkson, Ltd., Wellington and Christchurch, who is visiting Auckland. Mr Clarkson bases his knowledge of the reading question in the development of commerce and the increase in production on an intimate knowledge of the reading systems of Europe and America. Instancing the reading development of America as more nearly approximating the conditions obtaining in New Zealand, Mr Clarkson said that what he had seen in the-United States had convinced him of the absolute necessity for the adoption of an energetic reading policy for the Dominion. He considered the time had arrived for the establishment of an arterial road board comprised of, say, five prominent capable commercial men, with some engineering ability. The first business of the board, he considered, should be the construction of an arterial road, which would serve military purposes, if required, from the North Cape to Bluff. A special fund for arterial road construction should be created by the issue of bonds. The taxation to meet interest and sinking fund on the amount raised should be levied on motor-car tyres, and on all wheeled vehicles. The tax could be levied in such a manner that it would produce at least £60,000 for the first year, and he was convinced this amount could be reasonably increased year by year. This amount would provide interest at 5 per cent., and sinking fund at 1 per cent, on £1,000,000, and he felt sure this capital sum could be raised in the Dominion by the issue of road bonds, providing those interested had the matter placed before them properly. The landholders whose properties would be served by the road, the commercial men and people in the traction business, in addition to the private users of motor-cars and other wheeled vehicles, would all be keenly interested, and the State interest in such a scheme, both directly and i indirectly, would be very great. The construction of arterial roads, said Mr Clarkson, would not cease with the completion of a north and south connection. As opportunity offered cross arterial roads could be constructed to the advantage of the Dominion. In respect to the type of road to bo constructed, he said he was convinced the concrete road was the thoroughfare of the future, and Now Zealand's arterial roads, in view of the increasing utilisation of motor traction, should be constructed to meet modern conditions. As illustrating the growing popularity of good arterial roads, Mr Clarkson said that at present there were five transcontinental arterial roads in course of " construction in America, each of an approximate length of 3000 miles. ,