SECONDARY HIGHWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 19802, 28 February 1928, Page 8

SECONDARY HIGHWAYS

THE BOARD’S SUBSIDY PROPOSALS

[Pkb United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON. February 27

Following closely in the wake of the declaration as main highways of lfto miles of streets through _ smaller boroughs, a ‘ Gazette ’ notice ’will shortly appear declaring tho 2,GUU miles of secondary roads in the counties selected by the Main Highways Board at its last meeting. The allocation ot the revenue derived from the petrol tax provides for tho distribution ol 25 per cent, for assistance to counties on secondary roads, of which, as already announced, u total length of 3,0U0 mfles is to be selected. As soon as these secondary highways arc declared the local authorities will receive a subsidy on maintenance. At present no such subsidy is payable, flutil such time, however, as tho hoard is in a position to know what the proceeds from the petrol tax will be, and also what expenditure is involved in tho maintenance of tho secondary highways system, it will not bo possible to subsidise construction works on these highways. With the amount allocated under the heading of main highways adjacent to the larger centres of population, 2o per cent., it is intended that heavy traffic roads in counties near the larger centres will bo surface treated, and where circumstances justify it the board will in all probability grant a preferential subsidy up to perhaps, in special cases, £3 for £1 towards tho cost of such better class of pavements. In pursuance of this policy the board, a short time ago, approved a payment of a £3 for £1 subsidy to the Waigain County Council, near Christchurch, towards the cost of constructing a better type of pavement between Christchurch and Chaneys corner. Specifications have been prepared lor this work, and tenders will close on March 1. In Wanganui the board has approved a £2 for £1 subsidy towards the surface treatment of the main highway southwards from Wanganui as far as Wangaehw. In Dunedin at the present time the board is negotiating

with local authorities in the city with a view to bringing about an improvement in the road surfaces for this town. The Hawke’s Bay County has made application to the board for tho payment of a preferential subsidy towards the cost of completing the surface treatment of the road between Napier and Hastings in tho and the AVaitaki County Council has requested tbs board to approve a more liberal subsidy towards Hie mst of surface treating the road between Oaniaru and Pukcun