MAIN ROADS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1922, Page 4

MAIN ROADS.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE

MINISTER OUTLINES SCHEME

WELLINGTON, June 7

Delegates to the Conference on the question of main arterial roads, called by the Minister of Public Works (lion. J. G. Coates) met in the'tea-rooms at the Parliamentary buildings this morning. The Minister presided and tlic following delegates were present: Messrs A. E. Jnll, M. Betliell, and the Hon. .T. B. Gow (N.Z. Counties’ Association) ; R. A. Wright, M.P.. and T. F. Martin (N.Z. Municipal Association); M. H. Wynyard and H. C. Jones (Good Roads Association); C. M. Banks, L. A. Edwards and H. W. Stott (Wellington). and J. V. Wilson, W. H. Booth, A. C. Hollins and T. J. White (Waira rapal representing the X. 7,. Automobile Onion ; E. W. Johnston, A. E. Ansell, H. Holliday (South Island Motor Union); J. TTenney (Auckland Antonio, bile Association); G. B. Richardson (Marlborough Motor Association); J. F. Cousins (N. Z. Motor Trade Association) : IT. L. Rogers (N T . 7. Wholesale Motor and Cycle AssooiaWon); and G. R. Sykes, M.P. (Masterton). THE MINISTER'S ADDRESS.

Opening the conference, the Minister surveyed broadly the roads question in the Dominion. He suggested the following heads for discussion: (1) Do we want better I'O'ds? (2) Can present local authorities on resources at their disposal improve roads as necessary?

(J) Control and administration. (J) Classification of roads and defining same. (5) Finance. (6) Allocation of money.

“First question, T take it,” said Mr Coates, “is whether the improvement of the roads of the Dominion at the presnt time is necessary. This is a question that does not take much answering. I think all parties round the table will be ready to admit that our roads at the present time are not of a Standard commensurate with the requirements of modern rapid transit. The second question is, can these admittedly inadequate roads he brought up to a satisfactory standard by those sources at their disposal ? Again, I think this is an easily answered question. In my opinion, the answer is in the negative. Arguing from the fust two preceding statements, I think it is evident that further resources must be tapped to enable the necessary improvemeiL to be carrie 1 out. and these resources 'must come from, or through the general Government. As you .are aware, last session a tax was placed on rubber tyres, the funds derived from which are specially sot aside for main road improvement and other proposals will be brought forward duiing the coming session by which further funds "ill be raised. In addition the Government is at Itho present time spending very considerabie sums on roads of all classes the amount being spent on reads of first and second importance being a m t inconsiderable portion of the total. !

THE CONTROLLING BOARD

“It is reasonable to suppose,” Mr [lonics continued, “under any amended arrangement for the control of /the more important roads, a similar sum will he annually forthcoming. For she control of the expenditure of these funds an organisation’ is necessary. Something such as a Highways Board has been suggested, and for the want of a better name I will refer 'to the controlling authority as the Highways Board. No doubt there will Ire considerable difference of opinion amongst members of the conference as to bow this Board should be constituted, but there are certain primary qualifications which, I think, all will admit. For instance, file Board most have a knowledge of road matters, both from technical and administrative standpoints. Also, bv r nsoii of the fact that the greater pad!, if. not the "hide of the funds at its disposal are derived from or through the general Government, it must be largely representative of 'the general Government. CLASSIFICATION OF ROADS.

“To pass on from the question of its constitution to its duties, before any scheme allocating the available funns can he commenced, it is neeessaiy that the roads on which assistance is to he given should he classified. No doubt an indefinite number of classifications might he made, hut I think it will be sufficient, in tlie meantime to divide the roads into those of first, second and third importance. Those of finl't importance I will call main highways, and those of lesser importance I should call secondary roads. These two categories will required to he defined more or less in detail from the beginning. AH roads not classed as main highways or secondary roads will automatically he tertiary roads. My idea of a main highway is one running through either the leng'tli or the breadth of the country, connecting up the main centres of population, and acting as an artery for traffic tli rough out the country. 'Members will he familiar with the lines of main highways proposed last, year. •Secondary roads would he those branching from the main highways to give access To cither large towns lying off the main roads or to large areas of country. As a rule secondary roads would be fairly long roads, connecting ii)i a number of diverse interests, but in some cases secondary roads, might be quite short, for instance a ron^ connecting an " important town with tile nearest railway. For the present it is not intended to consider any new system of assistance to so-called tertiary roads. ESTTM.VTINf! THU FUNDS.

“To lay out niiv scheme of assistance to the roads indicated above,” the Minister continued, “it is necessary tlidt tlie amount of funds available should lie known with some degree of definiteness. Investigations of Customs figures giving tlie values of tyres im-. ported show that- this is a constantly increasing quantity over a number of years, although odd years may show a decrease. It is not unreasonable ’to supposo that, under the present tariff this source of revenue will produce £150,000. Tn fact I have hopes that when times become normal, it will produce more. However, it is not advisable to assume a higher figure than T have indicated. With regard Jto licensing boliicles, this is a matter on which my colleague, the Minister of Internal Affairs, will have more to say, but taking the figures which arc really only J

a fraction of the license fees charged j in England and America, this source will still produce a sum approximately the ) same as tyre 'tax, that is £150,000. At the present time, from the Consolidated ; Fund and Public Works Funds about £250,000 is spend-on roads of primary and secondary importance. Money from 1 lie Consolidated Fund is spent 011 the maintenance of roads which are maintained Ijy the general Government because it lias been decided by past Administrations that the upkeep of these roads is too heavy a burden to be car- ; riod by the somewhat poor and unsettled country through which they pass. I have no doubt it will be some years before the local authorities are in a position to take over control of those roads, and therefore I have assumed that £OO,OOO, the amount derived from the Consolidated Fund, will continue to be spent as it is at present, and subsequently will not be available for improvements, but simply to retain the present state of development of the roads on which it is spout. The balance approximately £IOO-000, together with i 'the £OOO.OOO previously mentioned, will be available for allocation to main highways and secondary roads.” In conclusion, the Minister su/ge-t----ed th;<t those opening remarks should he a sufficient basis on which to build up a very useful discussion, and that when the various points in it had h: on gone thiough seriatim, they could then take up tlio question of how these available funds should, he allocated. and under whoso immediate direction Kilie money should lie spent. As they had much hard work before them, which could only lie overcome by united efforts, the Minister suggested Unit, for a start at any rate, the proceedings should bt> carried out in rommitVee. and that subsequently, perhaps, the i questions might he eiseiis.-od publicly. | The conference agreed to this si'gi gestiun.