The Star. MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1925. MAIN HIGHWAY FUNDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17570, 22 June 1925, Page 6

The Star. MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1925. MAIN HIGHWAY FUNDS.

The dangers of delay in connection with the expenditure of money on main highways have been pointed out clearly enough by various speakers to convince the South Island people that the local bodies are not taking their responsibilities seriously enough. Following the very plain statements of Mr J. D. llruce, county representative on the Highways Board, Mr M. 11. Wynyard, the motoring representative on the board, lias been telling flic South Island Motor Union that if the South Island local bodies do not wake up, there is a chalice that they will be sacrificed to the more insistent demands of Uic North Island. The position at present is that the revenue obtained under the Act is allocated according to the number of cars in cacti Island, but the North Island lias been spending everything it can get for road maintenance, while it is borrowing freely for road construction, and while there is money lying unused to the credit of the South Island, a movement is bound to be put on foot sooner or later to readjust the ratio of expenditure to the. detriment of the Soutli Island. The situation recalls the parable of the buried talent, especially as the South Island is in the position at present of getting only 10 per cent of the available revenue. It may be argued that main highways should be a purely national undertaking, but the difficulty is to persuade Parliament on tiiis point, and it may be that no change will be effected in tlic present system for many years. In the meantime, therefore, the North Island will tie consolidating its position at the expense of the South Island, and the ground flius lost may never be recovered. The position can be realised from the statement made on May 30 by Mr J: If. Bruce, that tiie applications for m'pney from the North Island for the coming year totalled £ 180,000, while not a single application had been received from the South Island. It is not very surprising to learn from motorists, therefore, that apart irom the “roadless North,” Soutli Island roads already compare unfavourably with North Island roads, and the motoring organisations would he wise to launch a campaign with the object of arousing (lie southern local bodies from their sense of false security in this matter.

Since the tours began in 1881, New Zealand Rugby teams have almost invariably found New South Wales particularly hard to bent in a second test on the Sydney ground. Of twelve of these fixtures, the All Blacks have won six. Four have been lost and two drawn. The remarkable feature about Saturday’s match was the quality ol the defence, though attacks were pressed with speed and determination, neither side could cross the line. The tackling must have been up to the highest international standard. New Zealand triumphed in the end, but it was only through the timely skill ot J. Harris. The young fullback from Canterbury secured the ball just inside the New Soutli Wales’ half, slightly on the angle, and kicked a beautiful goal. It gave the visitors a narrow four-point victory. J lie 1012.> All Blacks, however, have still to play their third lest. It will be interesting to see whether thev can finish up with a better record than the All Blacks of 1(121. Results to date, compared, arc us follow: - 1921 1925 iVll Blacks. All Blacks. First Test .... (L) 1(5—20 2(5 3 v. Metropolitan . . 38—5 (L) 1G 18 Second Test . . . 21 5 1 () Third Test ... 38 8 L signifies lost. It the combination now on tour can win to-morrow’s match, Messrs McKenzie and Donald can at least claim that the new Alt Blacks are worthy, on Australian performances, of a trial of strength against their famous predecessors.