HIGHWAY BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1921, Page 3

HIGHWAY BILL.

COUNTIES CONFERENCE HOSTILE WELLINGTON. September 28. The principles and general provisions 111 the Highway Bill Were explained to the Counties Conference to-day by the H,m. .1. G. Coates. Minister of I’uhlic Works. Members of the Good Roads Association were present.

The Mini-tcr apologised for his inability. without consulting the I’rime Minister, to present the actual draft. In the course oi a lull statement, All (\»ali's emphasised certain points as to the oul’fline principles ol the Mill, i ht* chief beneficiaries would be those who wished to I ravel at a high s| eed between places. For this reason lie had preferred to try to raise thu money for

const rortion and maintenance of suitable highways from taxation ol vehicles designed to run at high speed. Jliis was the alternative to special rating which would involve close connection with local bodies. In addition to the revenue derived from taxation ol tyres and motor licenses, t'lmre would be ailallocation of money from the I’ublie Works Fund. Last year C 230.000 had been spent oil the main roads outlined ■ from on rom] mninlcn-

Tim Minister said that the Highways Roard would consist oi tlm departmental engineer ami other gentlemen, who wotild have control of the s| ccial loud and the* work in which it was cxpcmllie intended t.o bring the Bill straight before I’arlianient after (''billet approval a»d not leave il to a R,,val Commission. Details would he U-tt to the board, which would consist of technical experts and skilled enginuers

uitli In sincss ad men and communs;,„s " A ect lain amount of centralisation wa- unavoidable in wotk "I tins kind As Minister responsible for the policy, lie would not have his efforts upset by an agitation got up ~v ul tlm country, and the endeavour would be to leave the administration a tree hand The Minister added that the special I'l.nil would, he hoped. b*' "hunt g:,c().(Kill It was ) roposed to take or ~|- about 21HI0 miles of road. 'Hie

-- * , avcr.M'e cost of maititename ran mtween' £2tl ami LSD a mile The new proposal would allow L 250 Hoc maiukcwaiicc.

In answer to a iiiindter ol questions, the Minister said that double license fees would not be charged. Decs cam,. , under the) ’(Motor Vehicles Act. lie j proposed to j III L the Bill before ■’iirtuiment as drafted ami ask Parliament to deal with it. The Highways itoaid would consist of the Chief Engineer (Ml- Eiirkert) and two other depnrt- ■ ■l,‘iital engineers, one of whom would bo specially qualified in road matters ’Pin- other two members would be up- ; pointed b v the (lovornor-iii-Coiiiteil. Whether they would l.e engineers or business men woirld be decided later. Constructional work such as deviations, j n ,id-making and bridgc-lmilding would 'come out of the Ruhlic Works Fund 1 and maintenance out of the Consolidated Fund. There would be no rebuts j for motorists residing in plates awa\ I from main arterial roads; it would be [a siraiglit-ouL tax for a straight-out j purpose The board could allow 10-1 1 cal bodies to do some of (he work, could ciiler into contracts and make whatever • seemed- the best arrangements. There was iiii provision ill the Bill lor taking ! over from local bodies special loans for road work completed. What actually ' would he Irim percentage of tyre tax lie could not say. mu give any indij cation, as it was a matter for the Cusi tonis Deartmunt.

I Considerable discussion followed the i Minister’s statement, and the followj ing (notion was carried . —''The exec.u- ---| live regrets that it has not had an ops port-unity "f TenARIS the proposed jVffiip fjtyhyyftys Bill, frill- only ft precis

as published in the I Voss. The Minister. however, has stated that local bodies and all interested in the matter can t«k« the printed statement as a clear indication of what is proposed The executive has considered the proposals. which take away from local authorities control of main roads anil coiitralisc authority, and express their opposition to .such proposals both oti principle and experience. The executive feel that the carrying out of the proposals as to increased subsidy. as suggested bv the last conference, tlmi such subsidy should be applied t» roads carrying main traffic, offers a far more equitable and satisfactory solution of the loading question of the Dominion.’’