NEW LAWS FOR HIGHWAYS

Chronicle (Levin), 23 October 1947, Page 6

NEW LAWS FOR HIGHWAYS

CONTROL OF POLES AND WANDERING STOCK WELLINGTON, Oct, 22. Designed to prevent ribbon developmcnt aloiig motor highways, a Publie Works Amendinent Bill was introduced and read a lirst time in the House oi Representatives today. The Minister of Works, Hon. R. Semple, said the Bill, which had been brouglit down in view of new motor liigliways visualised in the ten-year plans, provided for planned aecess routes to these liigliways. The Bill states that any publie highway, whe'ther then aetually eonstrueted of not, may be deelared a motor way. No tower, pole or other structure shatl bet placed on anv motor way.whether by the Crown or by any local authority or person, without the prior consent of the Main Highways Board. No person shall enter, eross or leave any motor way except a't a motor way, main highway, road or street from which vehicular aec-ess to the motor way lias been eonstrueted and is authorised by the Main Highways Board. The board may authorise the construction of speeial aecess to anv propertv adjoining a motor way to which aecess is not reasonably available by an authorised route. No person shall enter upon a motor way except at such opportunity and at such speed as will place him correctly in the stream of traftic without danger to any other user of a motor way. No animal will be permitted upon a motor way unless it is eonfined within a motor vehieie. The owner of any animal 011 a motor way will be liable for any damage that may result -from a collision vvith or the attempted avoidance of the animal, unless he proves that the presence of the animal on the motor way was not due to any negtigepce on his part. Mr. Semple said that in future the eonstruction of povver and telegrapli poles would be under the supervision of the Main Highways Board. All ovcr the eountry these poles were placed within a foot of the sicle of the road and they had caused the deaths of mauy people. Main motor highways would be regarded in the same way is the Main Trunk railway line and there would be ordered aeeess to them just us there was to a railway statiom There would he proper approaches to motor highways and they would be set out in planned order. Horse drawn vehicles and stock would not be able to use motor highways. In the eonstruction of new highways the department vvanted to avoid ribbon development and obstructions 011 highways ko as to make them safer for all concerned. An Opposition inemher: Won't the people or stock be able to eross the road? The Minister said that proper aecess routes would have to be used. There was 110 intention to shut people off the road.