The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, AUGUST 24th, 1922.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, AUGUST 24th, 1922.

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS. In the memorandum which he has issued to the delegates that attended the recent conference on highways, the Hon. J. G. Coates states that though the conference was agreed that good roads were essential and that existing local authorities could not undertake the work, no definite conclusions were come to. The differences arose on the one hand as between the. Government view and that of the local body Representatives as to control, classification and allocation, and on the other hand the motorists as to the provision of a considerable portion of the necessM »-y adidtional funds by way of motor taxation. The Minister says he is still convinced that his Bill of last session was an effective method of dealing with what is admittedly a difficult problem. Outlining the main features of the provisions he proposed to embody in a Bill to bo. introduced during the ensuing session of Parliament, the Minister says he is against the suggestion of a bon'd of control for each islnnd, and is strongly of opinion that one small board will best serve requirements, and he will propose that the board consist of a. chairman, to be appointed by the Government, one member representing the Public Works Department, one member representing local governing bodies, to he appointed on the recom-, tnepdation of the Counties’ Association

Executive, and one member representing motor interests, the method of liis nomination to lie decided by the interests concerned. It may, be says, be necessary to later set up a special organisation, but in the meantime tue organisation of the Pubiie Works Department and the local bodies will be used. In order to give some consideration to enterprising countries who have spent money in first class construction, ‘the Minister proposes to have the road surface valued, and pay to the local liodies concerned one-third of the cost of interest and sinking fund on the sums spent in permanent improvement of any roads that come under the board’s jurisdiction after classification. Tho Minister reckons that there will be between 2000 and 2500 miles of “primary” roads and 6.500 miles of “secondary” roads. Tt would not be possible at present to extend to those secondary roads the scheme of paying for past work done. The Minister in his memorandum goes into details concerning the expenditure of the 1 >oard’s revenue, the most important part being that where he says that if progress were dependent on revenue it would be a very long period before substantial improvement was obtained, and it seemed necessary to borrow definitely for road purposes. The estimated cost of bringing 2,000 miles of the primary roads up to first class standard was something over £3,000,000. The Minister realised that local bodies wanted some assistance while the intended permanent improvements were being carried out, and ho proposed £60.000 should be devoted to that purpose. In the course of some further explanatory paragraphs the Minister says: “It might appear as though the limits of permanent improvement would be reached with the spending of a £3,000,000 loan on upto date road surfacing and permanent improvements, but such is not the case. The number of motor vehicles is constantly increasing—so far, at a much greater rate than the population. Therefore this factor, in common with tlu> general increase of wealth throughout the Dominion, will result, in an ever-increasing amount of money being available from the sources indicated so that by the time tho first loan is raised and expended the way w-ill he dear for the raising of further loan moneys.” Last session’s hill proposed that certain main arterial roads should lie dealt with, hut the county delegates at the conference introduced the term “main traffic roads,” which would have meant the inclusion of perhaps several roads in each county. That would have meant “countyisdng” the allocation of expenditure, and that would not have been any better than tho present system. The amount of work the hoard could do would be regulated by fts funds, so it was essential that t'he relative importance of the roads should he determined. Therefore it w»s necessary for reclassification. He would propose that in the meantime the board divide roads into “primary,” “secondary” and the balance—the last mentioned not concerning the hoard, as it would not have to deal with them. The primary roads would be of such extent as it was clearly within the board’s ability to finance. The secondary roads would he such additional main traffic roads as tile board could be reasonably expected to deal with, either immediately or as time went on, and wavs and means increased.