The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1929. HIGHWAYS TAXATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1929. HIGHWAYS TAXATION.

i iiu niiiin source of inco.i.e in regard to highways taxation appears to be the peiroi tax, which is evidently ladling in suiistamially and in advance 01 the estimate. Aloncy being plentifu., time is naturally an inteiest displayed by local Indies and motorists alike as to tne dstrioutioii of these lands. Some aspecLs ol Llie matter cropped up at the meeting of the Jjorough Council on Friday night, when the position of the larger municipalities was discussed. I owns of a population ol six thousand and upwards, have a special appropriation, and this amounts to a consideralj.e sum, Lesser Boroughs receive only a moiety based on tile maintenance cost of the adjoining Count}' roads. I his, at times, is likely to oe something of a hardship, while in any cuse it is only the length of street of declared highway in the town which counts, tether streets may be used no less frequently by local, or through traffic, but iliu Council has no claim lor upkeep on that account. Jt was mentioned at the ihmK.gh Council meeting, that heavy traffic passing into the town traverses out lilllc of the main higliwav to reach the railway station or wharf, whence ilie gv.ods traffic is exported. There is thus a rather heavy handicap on small boroughs which are least a le financially to hear the strain. The liberal percentage to tile larger towns runs into a .mbtantial sum in every case, and there are facilities for these well treated local bodies to expend any surplus amount received on streets other than those uirectlv affected by main highway traffic. Jt will he recalled that the help for the smaller boroughs came only .is something of an afterthought. At the outset, the highways .scheme was dv.signed practically for the country districts, but the unfairness of this so in became obvious, and by degrees the smaller towns were invited to propose restricted main highways, but there uas been always a disp isition on tlie part of the highways Hoard, to limit highway concessions in the smaller towns. As to the improvement of streets to carry the growing volume ot traffic, the Baird should .be as elasticwith 'its funds for the smaller towns, as u is with the country districts. In many instances very liberal subsidies arc paid out to countries for remodelling main roads, with tlie result that the building of concrete or bitumen roads is going on rapidly in many places. Naturaiiy the funds of a small town are limited, and as money for new work is granted only on subsidy, it is incumbent for the local body to find a quota of the capitai cost. This naturally limits the ability of the local body to undertake substantial work. And it should he borne in mind that the substantial work is necessary in the main, not for local traffic which had been well served over many years, hut for the increasing transport traffic, which the district roan improveiniit is steadily bringing about. As a result of better roads, more motor traffic is created, and it is extending. The transport of stock by motor is now a eousidera.de item, yet • before the roads were what they are, such a method was unthoiight of, and the streets were more aide to meet requirements. Small boroughs sandwiched in between highways carrying continuous motir traffic thus have fresh and additional responsibilities thrust on them. Another eifet is the diversion of traffic, to the various streets instead of being confined to me special highway street. If the local body does not maintain the latter at its best, the traffic soon diverts to other streets more comfortable lor travelling, and the consequence is that several streets, instead of one. liecome an extra charge on the local body for the special maintenance. The local Council is about to endeavour to meet the position by having its declared highway extended to points covering the distances over which main traffic extends. and also seeks for an increased subsidy to assist in carrying out more permanent improvements to help in maintaining tne higliwav in such a condition that traffic will not be likely to divert from the accredited route. If these points a I*o met. the local body should he in nil improved position as.regards its charges for maintenance of main highways.