BAD STATE OF HIGHWAYS IN BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 64, 14 March 1949, Page 5

BAD STATE OF HIGHWAYS IN BAY OF PLENTY

I :,. Counties Seeking Minister’s Help \ The bad conditions of roads in the Bay of Plenty, State and main highways .and county roads, has long been a source of ! worry to public bodies and the attention of the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, was drawn to them by Ward 6 of the New : Zealand Counties’ Association ' at a special meeting of the ward ; at Whakatane last week. Though there was no invitation to "the press to attend the meeting, a statement was apparently issued to a Tauranga paper. It is assumed its publication here, is in order, since there seems no logical reason for secrecy in this area. The Minister of Finance was present at the meeting at the invitation of the chairman of the Whakatane County Council (M, J. L. Burnett, who is also chairman of the ward and its representative on the New Zealand Counties’ Association Executive. Mr Nash was accompanied by Mr W. Sullivan, M.P. .for the Bay of Plenty. The opportunity was taken to welcome Mr Nash to the Bay of Plenty on the occasion of this his first official visit to the Bay since his appointment to Cabinet rank. Ample Proof "

When drawing Mr Nash’s attention to the present roading conditions in New Zealand, on behalf of the ward, Mr Burnett emphasised that the roads in the Bay of Plenty 'bore ample proof of this deterioration and showed that a tremendous sum of money must be allocated for reconstruction of these roads if present traffic was to continue.

In his opinion the problem of allowing modern types of heavy motor vehicles with increasing axle weights to operate on poorly constructed roads must be balanced .against the ability of the country •to pay for roads which would stand up to that traffic. While acknowledging that the Minister of Finance could not himself provide the solution of this ■problem, Mr Burnett suggested that 'dose collaboration with the Minister of Works and Transport would • enable a policy to be evolved which would solve the problem. Minister Would Soon Know In lighter vein, Mr Burnett pointed out that Mr Nash that evening would be travelling over one of the ■worst State Highways in New Zealand and he trusted that the Minister would not have too unpleasant *a journey and would arrive safely at Gisborne.

The chairman added that countycouncils were almost at the end of their financial resources so far as providing money for road maintenance from local rates was concerned and, if the Government could not see its way clear to relieve the roads of the present heavy loading, then it would have to find large sums to put the roads in order for that heavy traffic.

In reply, Mr Nash stated that he was well aware of the problem and , referred to the work of a special •committee which had been set up in Wellington to examine the prob'lem and report to the Government ■on its findings. He further stated that the whole of the motor taxation of the Dominion was now expended on road j maintenance and construction and j "the servicing of loans raised to provide for that construction. Any further sums would have to be found, he added, by way of additional taxation and this, the Min-! ister pointed out, was a most con- ! tentious subject. He assured the ! meeting that the Government would j make a very thorough examination j of the position and would utilise the j :esources at its disposal to the best possible advantage. Contract System Mr Sullivan asked the Minister to give serious thought to the question •of reverting to the contract system ■ for road construction. He’ claimed there was ample l evidence to show that present methods often resulted i in uneconomic use of plant which, combined with inadequate supervision of works, resulted in reading costs being far in excess of what they should be. The Tauranga, Rotorua and Opotiki County Councils were also represented.