MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 21 November 1924, Page 4

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

WORK OF THE BOARD.

MK J. D. BRUCE INTERVIEWED

Some- interesting information regarding the work of the Main Highways Board was given by Mr J. D. Bruce, representative- of tho South Island counties on the Beard, to a reporter yesterday. The latest held meeting of tho Board concluded last Saturday, and since then Mr Bruce hns teen visiting gome of tho North Island districts. Heavy Motor Traffic. The regulations referring to heavy motor tranie, under last session's amendment to the Public We-rks Act, Mr Bruce stated, are being drawn tip at present and, when ready, will bo circulated bv the Minister amongst local bodies and automobilo organisations. It is- probable tha-fr a conference of representatives of the interests affected will lie held before tho regulations are-actually gazetted. Respecting tho licenses to be- issued, the intention is that they should ha%-e force in the counties comprised in a> Maui Highways district, or a. combination, ot such districts. . The regulations tinder, last session s Motor Vehicles Bill are. also under consideration at present but, according to Mr Bruce, there is nothing very debatable in them: they aro to com© into force shortly.

Standards of Koad Construction. A subejtc in which Highways District Councils and' the local bodies within their boundaries are much interested in is that of the standard of road construction that the. Highways Board \yill decide noon. Mr Bruce stated that the model specifications have been considered bv tho Board And have been practically completed «md are ready for issue. They nro to be taken as a model for tho guidance of Highways District Councils, and their requirements aro not mandatory. "They arc meant as a guide," Mr Bruce aud, "and have been sec fairly high for that reason: they are sure to scare some, of course. Tnev cover ©very merited oi' raat.l- - known, from cement to tho ordinarv macadam, and have heeii compiled, very largely, k Mr A. />'«- dall, resident engineer, Main HighWays Board, from the experience gained bv him in tho Old Country and America: consequently they are quite up-to-date. They will gi*e Highway*. District Councils ficme idea of what is expected from, them, and they will be valuable in that respect, but they won't be able to live up to them. It is held, however. «nd rightly so. that if thev are. fairly stiff, the District Councils -will aim at something better than the existing roads. Tho Board has decided to arrange for demonstration sections being laid down by the different styles of construction: the same class of traffic will pass over each section and the effect of such traffic on each section will-bo reported on. These demonstration sections will ho laid down in continuation of the Hutbrond. They should prove ef educative value in determining tl>e standard of road construction to bo adopted; whore there is intense traffic one class of construction will be neccssaiy; where tho traffic is lighber, another class can bo adopted."

Applications fof Grants. Applications for grants in respect of new work, Mr Bruce said, have beeu received by tho Board, the majority from the North Island; these havo been considered and, where necessary, horo been amended: this has entailed a. considerable amount of work. In the matter of new works and of reconstruction, Mr Brueo expressed the opinion that probably the North Island was overdoing things and the South •was not doing enough: th 6 North Island District Councils were, apparently, rowdier to go in for borrowing than •were the South Iriand Councils. Three members of the Board—Mr Bruce himself and Messrs "Wynyard arid Gonnetfc—intend making a tour of the North Island; to the extreme north, to get somo idea of the special works in respect of which ejra.nta have been applied* for. They will be accompanied by officers of the Public. Works Department and will got in touch with the Department's officers in each of tho districts visited.

Amendments of the Act. ' Already there is necessity for several important amendments of the Act. Mr Bruce said that the Board had considered amendments whereunder power will be given to local bodies to raisa loans under the Loans to Local Bodies Act for highways purposes; also providing that in cases whero a main highway 'traverses seVoral ridings # in a. county, each riding shall bear its proportionate cost in respect of the portion of the main highway in its district, so that such cost shall not be a charge oa the county s& a whole. Other amendments provide for the definition of tho term "heavy, traffic," and for the reinstatement of certain by-laws. Referring to hia recent visit to tho south to inspect tho roads taken over by the Main Highways Board, Mr Bruoo said that it was found that, upon tho whole, these roads had been improved: it was also found that tho estimates were being exceeded ami more work wits being done than was originally contemplated: this in itsett' was satisfactory.