MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1923, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

DISTRICT (Ot'NClI. SIKCTIX'U. The first meeting ot the District Council No. 12 under the Main Highways Act. covering ihe lour West Coast Counties, was held at the office of the Public Works Department at Greymouth yesterday afternoon. There worn “ v present, Messrs .). D. Gillies, District Engineer, representing the Government: .1. Higgins, County Engineer, representing the Grey County : D. Archer, County Chairman, representing the Hull-/:- County. D. A. McVienr, County Chairman, representing the Inangahtia County: 1). -I. Evans, County Clerk, representing rli*- Westland County. Fennell, accountant Public Works tfifice. was appointed clerk to the District- Council. The iir-q business was the mom ot a chairman, and on the motion of Mr Higgins seconded by Mr Me\ icar, Mr Gillies was appointed Chairman. Greymouth was selected as the headquarters of the Council, the office being in the Public Works buildings where the Chairman stated a room could be set aside for records and meetings. Mr Evans pointed out that it would he necessary in make visits to other centres of the district to gain local knowledge of conditions and plant, and meetings might be made movable on occasions. Mr Archer concurred, and it was decided to arrange a tour as eireiimsiancos permit toil. It was explained that the local bodiss were responsible for the actual reasonable travelling expenses of their representatives attending meetings of the Council. There was not any provision for any other finance, and it was resolved to enquire from the Highways Board what was the practice in other districts in reference to expense which might have to ho incurred. Three were fixed as a quorum for Council meetings, and on the motion of Mr Evans seconded hv Mr Archer, the Chairman. Messrs McVienr and Higgins were appointed an executive, two to form a quorum. The Chairman supplied, particulars of the requirements of the Highways Board in regard to recommending the selection of roads to he declared main highways. 11l respect to roads so declared. the local bodies would he ealleil upon to pay one hall of the cost of construction of new works, and in the case of maintenance two-thirds of the cost. The opinion was expressed that this was an impost greater than the local bodies could hear, and it was resolved to enquire from tin- Highways Board what relief could he given under Hie provisions of the Act, whereby the maintenance charge on the local bodies could he reduced. It was deified to ask the representatives to go into the _ question of main highways thought necessary in their respective districts. It was resolved, also, to enquire for a clear statement of the functions of the-Council on various matters, and the Executive was asked to meet in the afternoon to draft the necessary correspondence to Headquarters on the points raised. The next meeting was fixed for Friday, D.-e. 7. the local bodies in the interim to prepare a draft of the roads proposed in he declared main highways and to draw uu rea-oii* for same: also to prepare the details in regard to the length ami condition of the roads proposed to lie declared main highways. Feints in respect to Government m:iint:ii>i"il roads or those already subsidised. were discussed, and it was resolved to secure the retention of same as far as passible. „ A statement was submitted of tile Government expenditure on main roads already existing, and it was resolved to supply a copy of some to the respective representatives. The statement showed that the largest expenditure was in the Westland County, where there was the greatest length of roads, hut the mileage cost of maintenance in Westland wa> by far the lowest amount. It was decided to supply the representatives with typed copies of the minutes, together with copies of directory circulars issued by headquarter.-, and to ask for copies of all regulations issued miller the Aft. The representatives stressed the view that the proposals under the Act promised to hear heavily on the local hollies. unless the quota of exjienditure to be demanded from same was eased considerably. It was resolved to ask Headquarters in supply copies of returns recently collected in regard to road mileage in the respective County districts, as also plant etc. available for operating over the local roads. The meeting concluded at 1.15 p.m.