I move:—
"That in the opinion of the Seanad the upkeep and maintenance of the main roads and trunk roads of Saorstát Eireann should be made a national charge."
The motion standing in my name for discussion here to-day is no stranger to any of us. Such a proposal in one form or another has appeared repeatedly in the public Press during the last four or five years, but up to the present I have not seen anywhere an intelligent discussion on so important a proposition. The handing over of the trunk and main roads of the Saorstát for maintenance by the State will ultimately be shown to be either a right policy or a wrong one. More likely, perhaps, some middle course will be decided on as the most desirable. At this stage I do not desire to press my views very definitely. My intention is to arouse discussion on a matter of great public concern, and acting in the spirit of the Cathaoir-leach's suggestion I am convinced that a debate in this House on a matter of so much importance to the economic life of the Saorstát cannot fail to be helpful to those who must ultimately find a solution. As I have already indicated, the subject is controversial but without committing myself to any definite proposals I cannot fail to be impressed with the information in my possession, that most European countries and most of the American States have for their leading roads, adopted a system of State control either altogether or in part. France, of course, is the great example, whose national routes were in existence entirely under State control before the time of Napoleon and were, until the war at all events, a model to the entire world. I regret to say that I fear the condition of the roads of France is not in a satisfactory condition at present. Other countries followed the example of France, and to-day there is scarcely a country in Europe where the State system of control is not in operation in some or every degree, as regards their main roads.
England was the last important European country to adopt the system of partial State control and with characteristic British caution it was begun about 1909 in a very tentative way, and consisted merely of a system of State subsidies to local authorities who, having got the grant remained the administrative authority. About the end of the war, the Road Board as we know it, gave way to the Ministry of Transport and with the aid of the country surveyors and their assistants a system of trunk and main roads, or as one might call them, national routes of the 1st class and 2nd class were scheduled, and the proposal was that the State should pay 50 per cent. of the cost of the maintenance and repair of the 1st class and 25 per cent. of similar work of the second class.
Hitherto it should be noted the Road Board merely contributed towards the cost of special improvements and nothing towards general maintenance. For some time prior to the establishment of the Ministry of Transport the question as to whether there was an obligation on the State to pay for the maintenance as well as the improvement of the main roads, was hotly debated, and was decided in the affirmative by a Royal Commission on Local Taxation in 1901, and by a Departmental Committee on highways in 1903. Thus, at the present day the local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland are relieved of the cost of ordinary maintenance to the extent of 50 per cent. on first class roads, and 25 per cent. on second class roads, as well as receiving a contribution towards all approved special improvements of about 50 per cent. This scheme is, of course, in operation also in the Six Counties, as I have indicated, where it has been given an extension in this manner. The Six County Government contributes 60 per cent. of the cost of maintenance of first class roads, 25 per cent. of the cost of the second class roads, and about 15 per cent. of the cost of the third class roads, and in addition, the local authorities receive a contribution of about 50 per cent. towards the execution of special works of improvement. It may be said that the Free State contributes considerable sums towards special improvements within its area, and that I freely admit, but if there is a case for State intervention in the case of special improvements, there is surely as strong a case for State intervention in the case of maintenance, as it is the traffic for which they are improved, in order that they may adequately carry it, that eventually wears them out.
Now, let me say again that I do not desire to put forward quite definite views at this juncture, but I do think I have made a case for serious discussion, and let me hope, also, whatever decision is come to here to-day, that this matter will not be allowed to drop until we here have thrashed it out thoroughly and in the best interests of the State. I am aware that the railway interests are opposed to any considerable improvement in the roads, at all events to the extent of developing existing competition with the railways. As a railway shareholder, I am not naturally forgetful of the fact that the development of the highway borne traffic could reach a stage which would mean death or the next worst thing to the railways; and one must not forget that it would be serious to do violence in that degree in a poor country to so many people who have invested a good part of their savings in railway stock, not to talk of the many institutions, charitable or otherwise, that depend for a good part of their income on railway dividends. Here, too, however, discussion may reveal a solution. It would be wrong in any case to ever again allow the railways an undisputed monopoly, for the high railway freights which would result would be one of the greatest hindrances to economic development. If by any chance such a monopoly should again come into being, I for one would work strenuously for reasonable but effective State supervision of all railway charges. There need be no monopoly whatever, for there is a middle course if we can fix it properly.
We must develop, by whatever means we can, our tourist traffic, and for that reason our national highways must be sufficiently good to attract the visitor with the motor car. In whatever form the State controls matters like these they can be satisfactorily adjusted in such a way that every interest can be considered and no interest I hope will receive more consideration than that of the farmers on the ground that it is they who above all others keep the wheels of the Free State revolving. I must not forget the labourers whose position at the present time is not nearly as good as what they are entitled to expect under a well-regulated State. I hope that whatever proposals are carried into effect they will mean more work for the labourers and less of the demoralising dole which in my experience is by no means liked by the best labourers in this country. In any case, the labourers deserve more con-consideration than they have received hitherto. I disagree with much of the criticisms that have been made on labour and I can certify from my own knowledge that the efficiency of labour on the county roads with which I am familiar is as high as could be expected. Now this question is a very serious one at the present time. As most Senators know, the country is not in a position to bear any higher taxation and if we are to provide for the traffic that our roads will have to maintain we will have to have increased taxation. Within the last 15 or 20 years the expenditure on the roads has trebled. No doubt we will be told that many grants had been made but I hold that the grants that had been made were not at all sufficient and I hold that we will never have proper roads under the present system. We must have some kind of central control before we can get the roads up to a uniform condition.
About two years ago I think the Government announced that they were going to give a large grant, something like one million of money, for road expenditure. I think the local authorities were a good deal disappointed in regard to that grant because from my experience I find that the grants we have received have partly come from local taxation, that is, from motor taxation, and from the Damage to Property Account. I think if we are to get our roads up to the standard required in Ireland it would be necessary that we would get at least some State aid. I hope the Government will take serious notice of the strong feeling that exists all over the country that sufficient taxation must be put on heavy lorries. Our roads were not built for carrying the heavy traffic placed upon them at the present time.
I remember, on the passing of the Local Government Act when we took to repairing the roads, we had to start at the foundations. We tried to build them up for the ordinary traffic, and the roads are certainly not fit to bear the new traffic that has since been put upon it. Therefore, I think if motor lorries are to be allowed to destroy our roads they must pay for them. The farming community at the present time can not afford to pay higher taxation, and I appeal to the members of the Seanad to impress upon the Government the necessity for immediate legislation either in the form of State control or partial State control, or whatever other method they consider best in this matter. I hope the Government will take serious notice of the necessity of introducing legislation at the proper time to deal with heavy motor traffic. I am convinced, and I speak from experience, that if the Government do not take up this matter immediately they will not be able to put their legislation in force in connection with this matter before January next. This is a very serious matter. Even in Northern Ireland they have come to see the necessity for increasing the taxes on motor lorries. Something must be done in the Saorstát, and I hope the result of this discussion will enable us to arrive at some proper solution of this question. The ratepayers are not able to bear any more taxation in regard to the roads; they have made great efforts to keep them up to a reasonable standard; they have gone as far as they can, and it is now for the State to try and assist in whatever manner they think right to maintain the roads at a proper standard.
