UPKEEP OF MAIN ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1923, Page 4

UPKEEP OF MAIN ROADS.

“It is an utter impossibility to maintain metal roads where there is heavy traffic.” This statement was made by the engineer to the Hawera County Council on Saturday, and is as true of every other county in Taranaki as it is of Hawera. Metal .roads will not withstand the fast, ever-increas-ing motor traffic which is such a prominent feature of the province. The inflated tyres suck out the blinding which the frequent rains loosen, and the winds do the rest, leaving holes which gradually widen and weaken the roads, necessitating remaking every year or two, and imposing a burden upon the unfortunate local body which it is impossible to bear for long. There is only one effective way of keeping up roads in such a wet climate as ours, and that is to seal them with bitumen or tar. This work entails heavy initial expense, and cannot be met out of revenue. That is why the various county councils have raised loans for this work, the rate revenue being found ample with which to meet interest and sinking fund charges. The other week, Eltham, which was the first county council in the Dominion to experiment with and perfect tar-sealing, was able to substantially reduce its rates. It has not only tarred its main roads but has also treated its by-roads similarly, finding that it paid to do so. Now the progressive elements in the Inglewood county, finding it absolutely impossible to improve their main roads out of revenue, are again submitting a proposal to the ratepayers to-morrow to borrow sufficient money to tar-seal the main roads. Last time a similar proposal failed of the necessary three-fifths majority by only a few votes. We trust the county ratepayers will make no such mistake to-morrow, but that they will roll up in bigger numbers and carry the poll. They simply cannot carry on under present conditions, any more than the neighbouring councils have been able to. Tar-sealing is the only way out of their difficulties. Complaint has been made of the lack of attention to the side-roads. This is quite understandable. The upkeep of the main roads, carrying as they do the whole of the through traffic of the province, has been so heavy that the side-roads have had to suffer. As soon, however, as the main roads are put down permanently there will be revenue to spare for the side-roads. So it is in the interests of all to support to-morrow’s proposals. There is also a proposal to raise £l2OO for the erection of county offices. This is a sound business proposition, entailing no greater expenditure than is now incurred by leasing premises, without the added convenience and safety which a fire-proof building affords. We trust ratepayers will not allow these progressive proposals to be lost through indifference on their part.