Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1924, Page 2

It appears to he a slow process bringing the .Main Highways Act into force. A further step however has been taken recently by the 'mzotting of the roads.—both main highways and Government roads. Further legislation is necessary however for the local bodies to facilitate the raising of new money when the local bodies intend to take advantage of the Highways grants for reconstruction purposes. Ronds which are designated in the recent Order-in-Council, whether nctually constructed nr not. shall he knqwn m main highways os from

April 1, 1924, according to a statutory pronouncement under the Main Highways Act. It is provided in the Act that every reference to a “main highway*' as such shall include the land on which the highway exists, as well as bridges, ferries, fords, culvons or other structures forming part of the highway nr land. Tn the general highways scheme of the Government provision is made under the Act for the Highways Board to undertake all works of construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of any highways that have been declared .to bo Government roads under the PublicWorks Act of 1908. with contribution from any local aiitlmtitics. Power is given to tho hoard by this section of the Ail to provide a greater proportion of the cost than is proscribed by its highways provisions, ltoads that Dave been heretofore under the jurisdiction of local authority have now been decalred Government roads. The Main Highways Board lias been guided by two main reasons in its recommendation, now adopted by Order-in-Council in the declaration of these roads. The first reason was the position of in. metalled roads running through sparsely populated distiijictn and where the local traffic was smaller than the through traffic; secondly, where it may lie that the local authority has not sufficient stall' or equipment lor construction or reconstruction as the case may he. Underlying tho declaration there are principles which it is intended shall dispose of the early criticism of the Main Highways Act. that it differentiated in favour of arterial or national routes as against the road that is purely the settlors’ road or the road in a district in the course of development, where local body finance is not equal to anv extensive scheme of highway construction. Tho Main Highways Board lias power in the case of Government roads tip pay up to the whole of the cost of construction or reconstruction. Tl lis is especially the case where assistance is needed by local authorities that are not fintincinlly strong. To the main highways. the hoard will contribute £1 for £2 in tlie case of maintenance and £1 lor Cl in the case of construction.