CONDITION OF MAIN HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 14, 12 October 1943, Page 3

CONDITION OF MAIN HIGHWAYS

Concern Expressed ‘'During tlie year the position has very seriously deteriorated both in regard to the amount of money available aud the consequent still further . reduction m maintenance, and tlie position today can only be regarded as extremely unsatisfactory," states the annual report of the Automobile Association (Wellington), in referring to the reduced maintenance aim expenditure on main highways.. “Looking into the future it is no exaggeration to say that the foundations of our highways have suffered so much destruction that unless money is made available, together with adequate labour and materials, to commence comprehensive work it will be necessary to reconstruct completely a substantial mileage of our reading system at enormous eost. The council has given publicity to tine position, and the Slain Highways Board s report for the year ending March 01, 19-13, also emphasizes the gravity of the situation. , , . .. “While it is admitted that (luring the past four years New Zealand has had to devote all its energies in helping to win the war, the question does arise us to whether the policy adopted in seriously reducing maintenance and repairs, particularly in view of the immense weigut and volume of military traffic that have contributed very largely to the deterioration of our reading system, will not prove ultimately to have been wrong m ellect. “During four years of war while our roads have suffered severely, the War Expenses Account has benefited to' tne extent of £-1,164,000. representing 4d. a gallon of the petrol tax. and the Consolidated Fund has received almost L.J.IHHJ,000 (4 7-10 d. a gallon) or a total of £9,164.000. and during the same period.the Main Highways Board has received £6.559.000. of which approximately £-,- 000,000 has been applied to interest, reductions of loans and overhead. “This position seems to forecast the necessity of the Main Highways *’. oa ™ raising very substantial loans to facilitate reconstruction of our deteriorated highways. or, alternatively, if the Government continues to use motorists’ taxation for other purposes the very slow and unsatisfactory process of doing- this work from current revenue each year. “The motorisi has always felt that by the application of motor taxation to the improvement of main highways, he has very largely reconned himself, or in other words, has received value in reduced petrol consumntion anti general running costs, but there seems to,be. the prospect for some years to come of him having to pay the taxation and progressively increasing’ running costs due, to the, deteriorated condition of the hieliways.”