THE HIGHWAYS BILL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 66, 10 December 1921, Page 8

THE HIGHWAYS BILL

AMENDED MEASURE INTRODUCED ARTERIAL ROADS NOT DEFINED ALLOCATION OF SPECIAL REVENUE The Main Highways Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Vice-Regal Message yesterday. The Leader of the Opposition asked whether it was the same Bill cis had been submitted to the Counties’ Conference. Tho Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) replied that it was the same Bill in principle save that the portion which named certain roads had been eliminated. The measure is of 16 clauses, and is to come into force on April 1, 1922. The portion dealing with the delineation of main highways lays it down that the Governor-General may'from time to time, by Order-in-Council, declare any public highway, whether then actually constructed or not, to be a main highway within the meaning of the Act, and subsequently in a similar manner define its lines. In so doing it shall not be obligatory to accept the lines of any existing highway. The usual safeguards are provided for this course, such as power io altdr or revoke any order, while it is also provided that in the definition of the highway shall be included the land on which it is constructed, and all bridges, culverts, ferries, fords, and other road works. Every road from the time when it becomes a main highway becomes a Government, road within the meaning of the Public Works Act, 1908. A main highways board is to lie constituted for the purpose of the measure. It is to consist of the Engineer-in-Chief of tho Public Works Dcparement (chairman) two other engineers on the staff of the Department to be appointed by the Governor-General, and to hold office during his pleasure, and two - other persons to be appointed by the GovernorGeneral on the recommendation of the Minister, to hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General. The powers and duties of the board: are defined m some detail. It is to have sole power of construction, maintenance, repair, and control of all main roads, and for that purpose all powers vested in the I Governor-General and the Minister with I respect to Government roads under the present law are to be transferred to the board. For this purpose it may hire from any local body any. equipment required to do any work on behalf of that local body, which in its turn is given the right to hire the apparatus to the board. Further, it may agree with any local body that the latter shall carry out for it any road work_ that may be convenient to treat in this way. Two special accounts in the Pubhc_Account are to be created under tho Bill, one to be called the revenue account and the dther the construction account. Into the revenue account is to be paid (1) All money appropriated by Parliament out of the Consolidated Fund for tho purposes of main highways. (2) All money received by the Crown under any Act as Customs duties on motor-tires. (3) All money received by the Crown from the licensing of motor vehicles. The purposes to which the revenue account is to be applied, as appropriated by Parliament, are the maintenance, repair, and control of main highways, compensation payable under the Workers' Compensation Act for accidents in connection with main highways, ’ho purchase and' hire of machinery and other appliances for main highways, and the expenses of the highways board-, together with other administrative expenses generally. Tho construction account, is to consist of all loan money borrowed for the purposes of main highways, Parliamentary appropriations out of the Public Works Fund for the same purpose, and money transferred from revenue account. Out of the constructions account the payments are to bo for tho construction and reconstruction of main highways, and to meet claims under the Public Works Act for land acquired in connection with anv main highway. The board is to prepare a report tor the Minister at the end of each financial year, and this report is to be laid before Parliament in the ordinary way. LOCAL BILL? PASSED The following local Bills were yesterday put through their final stages in the Legislative Council and passed without any .serious amendment: —Tauraiiga Borough Council Electric Loan Empowering Bill: Judea. Land Drainage Board Empowering Bill; Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Amendment Bui; Tauranga Harbour Board Empowering Amendment Bill: Tolaga Bay Harbour Board Empowering Bill; Invercargill Borough. Council Sneciol Rate Empowering Amendment Bill: Taieri River Improvement Amendment Bill; Christchurch Tramway District Amendment Bill. OFFICIAIFaND TAXIS "Are taxis used unnecessarily by Government officials when trams and trains would do?” asked the Lender of the Opposition last night. “They’re being looked after now. was the Prime Minister’s reply.