New Legislation Required. 
21 
administrative ipachinery exists for the construction of new 
trunk roads. The procedure might be by Provisional Order of 
the Local Government Board, who might be authorised, on the 
petition of any one authority interested in the construction or 
improvement of a main road, to constitute a temporary Board 
to deal with the whole question throughout several districts or 
even counties. 
Wise legislation with regard to our highways is greatly 
needed, and it would have the following effects : — 
(1) A great improvement in the condition of the main roads. 
(2) A general improvement in trade and industries due to 
the increased facilities for transit afforded, the value of which 
would vastly outweigh the cost of the improvement of the roads. 
(3) An ultimate saving in the cost of road maintenance. 
(4) A practical cure of the mud and dust nuisance. 
(5) The employment of many labourers for a number of 
years on works, the result of the execution of which would be 
an increased demand for labour tending to settle the unem- 
ployed question. 
(6) An improvement in the facilities for moving troops and 
war materiel for the defence of the country against invasion. 
At present our roads cannot carry light traffic at high speeds 
nor very heavy traffic at any speed. 
The following preliminary steps should, however, be 
taken : — 
(a) To procure from the county surveyors accurate maps 
of all roads which might fairly be considered main or 
trunk lines, with particulars as to their width, gradients, and 
condition. 
( b ) To determine, by means of an impartial and authori- 
tative body, what roads may properly be considered as of 
national importance. 
From the preliminary maps of the county surveyors, and 
the existing records of the Ordnance Department, a very 
valuable general map could be prepared, and with such a 
map and accompanying schedules of the present cost of 
road maintenance, the main features of an improved system 
would be apparent and its cost could be estimated with 
confidence. 
(c) To investigate the circumstances of all the county 
boroughs and urban districts as to the cost falling upon them 
for road maintenance, apart from scavenging and watering, 
and to prepare statistical tables to show the poundage on the 
assessable valuation due to such cost in every administrative 
area in the country. 
Without such information the financial questions as to 
grants and area of charge cannot be properly considered. 
