ARTERIAL ROADS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1053, 27 June 1917, Page 2

ARTERIAL ROADS.

PROVIDING FOE UPKEEP. Press Association. WELLINGTON, .Tunc 20. A large deputation representing many local bodies waited upon the Minister df Public Works to-night urging that the Government should take over the Manawatu Gorge Road and bridge. The Minister was informed that the local bodies felt strongly that tlie Gorge Road a.s a connecting link between the two coasts should be treated as a national road. Tallies showed that most of the traffic through the gorge was motor traffic, which was responsible for much damage. The condition of the road at present was highly dangerous owing to the fact that the neighbouring local bodies could not provide the money required to maintain it in proper order for arterial traffic.

The Minister, in reply, said he could not look upon the proposal of-the deputation as affecting merely the Manawatu Gorge Road. The principle advocated affected every arterial road in New Zealand. If the Government took over one arterial road, it would have to take over many others. I lis contention was that the people who used the roads should pay for them. The Manawatu Gorge Road undoubtedly was an arterial road, and the bulk of the revenue renuired for its maintenance should be provided by the owners of motor cars. He believed a tax on motor cars using the Gorge Road would provide all the money required. Air Frascr added (hat the settlement, of the arterial road question depended upon passing a Local Government Bill, and there was no chance of such a Bill being considered by Parliament in war time, lie believed the Government ought to assist the local bodies in the maintenance of the Gorge Road, and when he. received the Commission's report he would place the whole matter before the Cabinet. In conclusion, Air Frascr said he did not believe it a wise policy to suspend public works expenditure altogether even in war time. The Dominion had a big harden of debt to carry, and the way to lighten the load was to increase production and provide menus of getting produce to markets, but he could not know yet what amount of money would be placed at his disposal. Most of the loan money to be raised during the current financial year would be required for war purposes. The war was costing New Zealand at least a million a month, and the Government would not find i! easy to raise money for other purposes, though it was intended to make an effort. In reply to a question, the Minister said he would consider any request for permission to place a toll-gate on the (Jorge Pond. Mr I). Buick, M.P.. in thanking the Minister, said he believed a toll-gate offered a solution of the whole difficulty.