A SERIOUS POSITION

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2314, 22 March 1930, Page 4

A SERIOUS POSITION

GROWTH OF TRAFFIC. 7 •• : \ USE OF MAIN HIGHWAYS. THE USER MUST PAY. The enormous growth of the use of motor vehicles, in late years and the parallel reflection upon the Dominion's roads is a matter that i's the greatest concern of local bodies and it was. subject of aNdiort discussion, introduced by an. opinion from the engineer's report to the monthly meeting of the Matamata County Council yes- ' tcrday. ' , ■ " . v •'•.. Mr Fitzgerald said it would be premature to attempt a detail forecast of expenditure for next year, but it was not too early to foresee the necessity for ear-marking less revenue moneys in the future for development. So far as the county-was concerned the considerable sums received from the Highways Board did not fully compensate for the extra roading expenditure occasioned by increased motor traffic, a position which was being felt by many local bodies. . . ■..;.■ . A Serious Position. Cr J. Bruce said the • position was getting very serious with regard to the maintenance of main roads. It seem*—i ed that as„ a result of the enormous growth of traffic, they would have to' call upon the ratepayers to put their hands in their pockets, if the standard of the Toads was to be maintained. Ho was strongly of opinion that the time had arrived when local bodies wOuld have to ask for a higher subsidy, and he thought that the user of the road should be called upon to provide for the maintenance of the roads, a little more than had been the case in the past. It would mean an increase in the benzine tax, and it was-necessary. He thought that 90 per cent of the tenance of the main roads should be v provided for out of the benzine tax, and the balance by the ratepayers. The serious . position should be placed strongly before the authorities! It was a subject for a remit from the Council to the Counties' Conference.

Cr W. H. Allen heartily concurred with the previous speaker, and pointed out that under tho present conditions the subsidiary roads, which were of greater importance to the producer, were being sacrificed in the interests of the main highways. Cr P. Dee said the rates imposed today were becoming a high tax upon the land.

The chairman agreed that the suggestion of a remit to the Counties' Conference was a good idea. He assured Cr Bruce that such a remit would be before the conference.

Cr Morriss: We've got to find the maintenance for highways elsewhere. If ' is suggested that the rates be put up again next year we'll have a kick coming from backblock ratepayers. At this stag© the subject was allowed to pass. * .