The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1928. MAIN HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1928. MAIN HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE

The fact that the Government anticipates raising £700,U00 hy the petrol tax has stimulated an interest in main highways maintenance. The Highways Councils have been requested to submit local lists, the Highways Board anticipating that it will lie possible to make an increase of 51) per cent, in highways road mileage for the whole Dominion. In this allocation preference is to be given to localities with at present a minimum ol declared highways. At the same time special consideration is to be given to large centres and to suburban areas over a ratlins of 50 miles. The monetary allocation for small boroughs is four per cent, or approximately £28,000, This .sum is conserved for main highways passing through Borough areas, and will enable some increase in the mileage allocation in addition to that paitl already. So far as the West Coast district (comprised in Xo 112 Highways District) is concerned the Council has made a selection of additional highways conformable with the recommendations from the four interior County Councils. Thu total highways mileage already created in the district is ;I.'SB miles, and lilty per cent, advance would he an increased mileage of 101). Actually 2011 miles are proposed to he added, all covering important district roads which serve industrial purposes, and all of which carry heavy traffic. Of the extra mileage asked for, the. bulk Is in the Grey County, which so far has the minimum of West Coast highway mileage. The ! Bullet - and Jnangahua Counties each ask for a little over 40 miles, while the Westland County, with a request for 130 miles, is the lowest. The existing mileage of main highways is the greatest in Westland County, with 153 miles. Boiler is credited with 111 miles, Jnangahua 40 and Grey 33 miles. At the same time the statement of County roads mileage (other than highways) is interesting. Westland County n'gain heads the list with 290 miles. The Grey County has "240, Buller 178, and Inangahua 110 miles. As regards the contributions to the Highways Board, the Westland County is the chief contributor, namely £1530 per annum. The Buller County finds £8.30, Grey County £SBO, and Inangahua £320. The local bodies' contributions, it can well lie understood, are a fair tax on the local resources. No doubt if additional roads are declared Highways, as some will undoubtedly, there will he an increased amount to find to subsidise' what is paid l>v the Highways Board from the petrol tax. The ratepayers have therefore to find their quota, which will lie in proportion to any grant which may he made by the Board. With reference to the Boroughs, the position is not so clear. While the Highways Board is prepared to subsidise - sidiary roads in Counties, the same system does not, apparently, obtain for the Borough. Roads at present part of the main highway in Borough areas will he subsidised as heretofore, hut probably more liberally. On equitable lines other.streets in a Borough, which it can he shown are used hy and for main highways traffic, should have some consideration. The Borough of Hokitika is exceptionally placed in that respect. It is the terminus for much north and south heavy road traffic bringing in cargo for export by rail, and that traffic finds it necessary to use streets other than the main highway. The wear and tear caused hy that national traffic should lie recompensed in some way. and this is a phase of the question which should he pressed when a fitting opportunity offers. Next month the Highways Board is expected to tour Westland, and )t is to he presumed the Hokitika

Borough Council will not lot the opportunity pass without placing its I>osition he fore the Hoard and seeking some form of consideration. The volume of Dominion traffic using all the roads on the West Coast should not he lost sight of when the case for No. 12 is under consideration Streams of motor cars have been passing up and down the Const during last month and this, and will continue for sometime. The highways are not used only. County road traffic has been heavy also, and that is another reason' why consideration in regard to the Counties and Boroughs should Ik 1 more elastic still.