MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18417, 25 June 1925, Page 6

MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT.

ADMINISTRATION >■ , CRITICISED. Reference to the Main Highways Act ! wp.s made at tiio ainiiifcl meeting of the Canterbury Progress League vesterday by tho president., Mr J. H. Blackwcll, who said: — , "In the past, this League has pointed out. to local bodies the importance of taking advantage of the powers afforded them under the Act-. I n fortunately, owing to the fact that the hulk oi the Maui Mighw'.y work m Canterbury is maintenance and the bulk of North Island work new construction, the heavier .subsidy given for new construction' has meant that most of the money available for the North Island has been taken tin, while the money available for the South Istend lies mostly untouched, because South Island counties do not care to ■undertake tho responsibilities involved. There is a proposal to equalise the subsidies on construction and maintenance, or to leave it- to the discretion of tho Board what subsidies should be.granted, which perhaps wil] enable southern counties to take better advantage of the Act-. ; The League is organising a conference of Canterbury local bodies at which the subject is to be fully discussed in al] its bearings and the chairman of the Board has been invited to attend ar.d gain first-hand knowledge of the difficulties which confront tho southern counties in respect to tho operations of tho Act. I would liketo make brief reference to the recent warnings issued by certain members of the Highways Board regarding whet appears to them the danger of ihe. Board' yielding to North Island pressure to divert some of the money raised in the South Island to the North. All I can say is if any attempt is made to bring this about, there- .an only bo one result —the establishment of a separate and independent scheme and Board for the South Island—a proposal that has already received vrry geiicra] support throughout the w'jolc of tho South Island." Mr A... F. Wright, said that while the Act might be of great benefit to tho North Island it did not follow that equal benefits would accrue to the South Island. He suggested that the Canterbury M.P.'s should demand fnmi the Government details of the amounts received from tho South Island since the Act came into force. So far the Government hr.d refused to supply those particulars. If the Government attempted to divert any of the money raised by tho South Island for the purposes"of the Act to tho North Island there would be an outcry from South Island local bodies, .and T,hs C'.-.n-terbury Progress League would l>e amongst' them. Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., promised that the matter mentioned by Mr Wright would be enquired'into.