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THE MOTOR WORLD.
I
NEWS AND NOTES FROM
THE N.R.MA.
FEDERAL ROAD GRANT.
The N.R.M.A. expresses concern
at the inadequacy of the new Fed
eral road grant, and says the Go
vernment's failure to face facts
will seriously jeopardise the nat
ional welfare.
Mr. C. R. Davidson, President,
said the Government's proposal
meant very ntue increase in rev
enue in roads. In view of ever
climbing costs of construction and
maintenance, and the tragic effect
of flood rains upon main roads,
the Department of Main Roads
and local councils would continue
to be hamstrung in their efforts
to build a reliable road system.
'It will take N.S.W. all the in
' crease in grant, and more, to i
overtake flood damage.' said Mr.
Davidson. 'But transport is be- '
ing tied in knots because ? of bad |
and inadequate roads, and the j
Department and local councils
have an immense programme be
fore them to overtake the tragic
wartime lag.'
Mr. Davidson added - that the
minimum need for road work in
Australia in the form of Feedral
grant was £20,000,000, or approxi
mately the total receipts from
petrol tax, but the Government
estimated its new scheme would
provide only £12,000,000 for State
road work. . If the balance was
not made up, Australian economy
would suffer and defence would be
in jeopardy.
It was imperative, for example,
that certain main roads be
strengthened to cater for the
heaviest type of motor transport,
to carry goods which railways
were unable to carry.
Mr. Davidson urged the Federal
Government to increase the rate
of grant per gallon to be returned
to the States, and to make up the
. balance from the proposed de
i velopmental loan, ^which it had
promised in its election policy
would be partly used for roads.
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