MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1924, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

PROGRAMME OF CONSTRUCTION

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WELLINGTON, duly 10.

Addressing a deputation of-members of Parliament from the Otago district this imirning, the Minister of Public Works said that it was a question whether the .Main Highways Board should definitely decide upon its programme in regard to the reading ol one portion of the Dominion, without regard for what was to he done in other parts. He laid suggested to the chairman of the Board that it would ho far better to have the North and South Island proposal ltotore them at Die same time, so as to make an even start. It was all very well to say "first come, first served.” In tlie North Island, tho Board was mainly concerned with lateral reads tn (he railways; in tlie South Island that was not so to the smile extent, except m Marti,orougli amt oo tlie \\ esi Coast. lii Canterbury there was provision for a road which would run praelicalle alongside the railway line. Here, they were faced with the anomaly that motors used a. track for which they did not pay. while the railways had to maintain their own 1 racks. He Imped the .Motor Vehicles Bill, to he introduced to Parliament would do away with that nnoniidy. That was not all he proposed to do in regal’d to competition between the motor .and railway. He clitl not see why railways should not compete suceesslully with motor traffic. In the circumstances, the railway would endeavour to take business away from flic motors. He Imped to iutru-den-e the necessary legislation very