THOSE GOOD ROADS.

Southland Times, Issue 19335, 29 August 1924, Page 4

THOSE GOOD ROADS.

Mr William Stone, who can look at a road from the motorist’s viewpoint, and is also able to appreciate the business aspect of transportation, has returned from Taranaki an energetic advocate of good roads for Southland.” He has driven over a system of roads unsurpassed in the Dominion, a system which advertises Taranaki while cheapening production and attracting people to the country, and he has realised that Southland has more to gain than any part of New Zealand from efficient roading. It cannot be said that the province is adequately served to-day. On all sides are roads which speak of neglect or inadequate funds, and the cost of these unsatisfactory traffic-ways is increased by the failure to spend money on them. A County Council may decline to expend anything on roads, but the cost to the community goes on in the shape of heavier transportation charges. In Taranaki this was recognised, and today, Taranaki has good roads. How was this done? They were paid for. The toll system was used; but no matter what method of collection was devised the fact remains that these good roads are possible because it is cheaper to pay direct for their construction than to keep adding to the overhead charges on road transportation. There is no mystery about Taranaki’s achievements, and that it can be repeated here is past doubting, but co-operation on a wide scale and energetic campaigning to make the man on the land appreciate the enormous value of good roads to him is necessary. To-day, the man who drives for pleasure is not the only gainer from the construction of “good roads” —the farmer gains enormously. By “good roads,” we mean, and Mr Stone means, something more than what passes as adequate roading in Southland to-day. We want sealed roads that will give a constant, level surface, and reduce maintenance to a minimum. The Southland League has here a useful work for its attention, because if any move is made in this direction it must include the whole province and be pushed with energy. Taranaki has got rid of “pot-holes”—why can’t we?