LOGIC DE LUXE.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 48, 7 August 1915, Page 3

LOGIC DE LUXE.

The Long Road. DIPLOMACY and logic are not twin sisters and the road logic of the Minister folr Public Works wouldn't noticeably overflow a good sized! thimble. A deputation lately waited on the Government expressing the beautiful truth that there is no road connection between Auckland and Wellington. An M.P. remarked that there was no road connection between those two- important and growing towns Te Ruiti and Taiumarunui, and the acute Minister of Public Works flattened the person by explaining, "but we have got a railway." Other flattening retorts could be made. "Sir, we have no electric cars." "May I remind the hon. gent, that we have a bullock d!ray?" "There is no telephone connection between Te Ngawaipapa and Paritika!" "Is not the hon. gent, aware that a pack-mail traverses the distance every four weeks?" "What steps are to be taken to connect Karakaramu and Paekakiriko ?" "Will the hon. gent, accept my assurance that the settlers by placing relays of men on the intervening bills excellent communication can be maintained by shouting the mes-

sage?"

The early Victorian Minister of Public Works fears that if the commom convenience of a great arterial road is supplied that motorists will vise it. This happening; to be the year of grace, 1915, in the petrol age one desires to know why not? Roadways compete with railways. Therefore wihy not close up the road between Manchester and Liverpool?

Has the farmer the right of free passage by road from Te Kuiti to Taumarunui? No, sir! The revenue of the railways would be affected. He must be made to pay for the railways he has bought. He's a New Zealandter and should be kept in the Dark Ages. If he can't afford to use the railways let him stay at home. In various countries road borne traffic still competes with rail borne traffic. Tlh© Public Works Department of New Zealand does not exist to force money out of the pockets of the people,, but to aid them by providing the facilities that are commonplaces in up-to-date countries.

The very fact that motor vehicles would' Tise a great arterial road is a reason, why such a road i© necessary. If it was good enough for the power vehicles which are nowadays) used by tlhe farmers whom Mr Fraser professes to love it is the right kind of roadl for the farmer who hasn't got a power vehicle. If a road between two important towns is wrong because there is a railway, a telephone is wrong because there is a horseman to carry messages. One does not douibt the inability of the Government to find cash, for a great road but one is entitled to smile at the reasons given for not making such a road. The value of the Minister's logic is shown by the recent railway accident, during which connection between the centres was, out. A road would have been wrong at such a time? Certainly! The Minister says so. If it is logical to force people (who paid for the railways) to use the iron road between any two stations, we suggest tihat the Welling-tom-Hutt Road which cost so much money andl which competes with the line should be closed. The motor car menace seen by Mr Fnaser is a bogey that should be settled. How dare a man buy a motor car when he might take a train ?

The value of the great road which connects two points also connected by railroad, is that it gives free access to all people, which is their right. It would debar the State from holding a monopoly of transport facilities and of squeezing the people as no other railroad concern in the would! squeeze them. People who are forced/ to use the State railway frequently show that freightage charges from Britain to New Zealand porte are lighter tha.n freightage charges between two near stations on, the New Zealand State railways. Connection toy road is even of greater importance than connection by rail, which does not always tap tihe intervening country. Thousands of people living in comparative proximity to New Zealand railways, are in effect isolated. The Government says, "We will not make a road for ■farmers' produce waggons because motor cars might uete jit." With equally brilliant loglie' the present Government might * remark, "We will not proceed with the building of Parliament House because a Liberal Government might inhabit it."