MAIN ROADS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1922, Page 4

MAIN ROADS

lAfPBESSrONS OF THE CON'FER-

ENCE

WAIPAWA, Tfune 12. 'file president of the Counties As-J social ion (Air A —T: dull), interviewed | as to the work of the Main Roads’ Conference called by the Alinister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates), said lie preferred not to allude to the precis banded "to'the Press, as it would he quite possible for different persons to come tt way with different views as to the trend of opinion, particularly as motor interests of various kinds had a very large prcdondcrancc of representatives at the conference. It was fair to say, however, that the motor representatives were anxious to conciliate local body opinion. 111 order if possible to slm;ten the conference discussions. and ascertain how Tar motor interests'and County Council interests could be brought together, the counties’ executive representatives invited representatives of the motor interests to meet them prior to the conference. This meeting was able to agree on a number of general principles. These resolutions were handed to the Alinister when the conference opened. It was agreed that. Boards having n-'-visorv and directory, as far as Government assistance was concerned, powers, should he set up. consisting of re; reseiitatires from the Government, the counties and motor interests; that there should be a Board for each island; that these Boards should have power to determine what we e main traffic roads in each district, and should determine the standard of construction of such roads; and that Hie basis of additional finance required should lie a subsidy of 10< in the £ upon all general rates of em pties, in Leu of the present subsidy of os in the £ on a portion of the general rates. It was lat,V r made clear that iv was desirable that h.-au moneys should be made available to County Councils by the

Government for the erection of concrete bridges and tar-sealed macadam, or other equally permanent roads. It was further agreed that in case of loan moneys the State should assist in the same proportion towards the payment of interest and sinking fund; Pat the Alinister. by and with the ,-nn,-cut of the Boards, could make grants to municipalities out of motor taxation. There were further recommendations' a s to the maximum loud per axle, and also that local bodies should not impose additional taxation on motor ears.

1 (aving these views before him, the i Minister was able to give the ionic/- | cnce indications of his intentions, and ; whine he differed item the c>.prs.-rd j opinions. The Hep. ll Imental view was ■ in favour of the classification -ol roads | into three classes, Init the county repre. scr.tatives v-,/i- opposed to such a si's- ;

I cm. s il wn.s made clear that even j if a huge poll ion ol the so-called at-j would he telmed first-class roads, while ta/-seated, or even concrete, roads. 1 e-’ii' ing the main traffic of the dis- : tri t, but n t an arterial route would j he second 'Has, r< ails. This might de-j feat the object of securing adequate n-si-inure lo the districts whose main j iit f |*u* roads Were not arterial roads. 1 by declaring a proportion of the total j ar iii’v nvailahh' for err’.i ila-s of pad.’ The conference wits opposed to Denn’t-j mental control, and oil this phase of the j discussion indicating that two Board''! would involve considerable expenditure, j opinion veered round to a small B aril j composed of men giving their w! ole j time I" the work. due Alinister of Internal Affairs, tile- lion. \V. Dowtiie Stewart) indi-j ealed that in order to provide addi- 1 timid money for roads, it was proposed ; t at a Motors Bill, to provide h.v a tax ! on cars a further sum of about 6150.000 per annum, in addition to the tyre tax. would be lice-. s-ntty if the r- a-l 1 question were to he faced. Mr Pown'e .Sicwarl staled that if the -same icmositicn was likely to t'u- pro-

posnl as it, had received last year, the Bill would not bo introduced, and ho invited thu Motor Arwiation’s representatives to meet him :in;l discuss the matter. Ir ti • 11 ;; ir<-..i that the revenue from Ivies up to the piosent was at the rate of h nl CIIQBOiI per annum, lint in tin' ili-etis lon it was assumed taat it would soon he about £150,0110, and would be a steadily increasing sum.

“On the whole.” s-dd Mr .lull, “I think the conference flea red the air. It -brought the various interests into closer touch, and enabled the Minister to nuns' clearly asceitam. what be wished to know. All the parties will await the Ministers more definite proposals with a hope I hat .m mething much more acceptable than the pievious Bid will bo evolved.” 1