MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4590, 25 July 1923, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

+ LOCAL BODIES CONFER. A conference of the local bodies interested in the Main Highways Board was held in the Farmers’ Union Buildings, Hamilton, yesterday, to discuss the grouping system and the formation of district highway councils.

The following local bodies were represented : Franklin, Messrs W. Claud Motion (chairman) and G. W. Heald , Hauraki Plains, Messrs J. C. Miller (chairman) and E. Walton; Kawhia, Messrs Babbage (chairman) and A. G. Dent; Manukau, Messrs F. Kearsley (chairman) and J. M. Davies; Matamata, Messrs J. Anderson’(chairman) and H. Rollett; Piako, Messrs F. W. Walters (chairman) and Stark ; Raglan, Mr Campbell Johnston (chairman) ; Thames, Messrs H. Lowe (chairman) and R. Cox; Waipa, Messrs S. Reid (chairman) and A Livingstone; Waikato, Messrs J. PBailey (chairman) and T. Hinton; Ohinemuri, Messrs A. R. Robinson (chairman) and S. H. Morgan. Mr T. B. Insoll, clerk of the Waikato County Council, acted as secre tary to the conference.

Mt J. P« Bailey, chairman of the Waikato County Council was elected chairman, and in a few well-chosen words welcomed the delegates, and explained the objects of- the meeting. Mr E. A. Jull, a member of the Highways Board, and president of the Counities’ Association, briefly outlined the constitution of the Highways Board and the scope of its activities. The speaker explained that the system of grouping as set out was not hard and fast, but had been suggested by competent engineers of the Public Works Department There would be no serious trouble raised by the Highways Board if recommendations were made to it hy the various district councils. From the county point of . view the speaker said that he. claimed, to some extend, to be responsible for the grouping system. He thought that the counties could work successfully together. The difficulties of transport and isolation that were in existence not many ago had been considerably improved. It would be very disappointing if men interested in county administration could not reasonably amalgamate their interests for improving roading facilities, and at the same time reduce overhead expenses. The High•ways Board was most anxious to improve the main roads system and further extend counties’ administration. Mr T. G. Murray, District Public Works Engineer, and. a member of the executive of the Highways Board, explained the grouping system at some length. There were some 37. 359 miles of formed roads in New Zealand, comprising 16,000 miles in the South Island and 21,000 miles ill the North Island. Of these figures 21,500 miles of roads were metalled in New Zealand, comprising 11,000 in the South Island and’lo,soo in the North Island, which worked out that the South Island enjoyed some 69 per cent, of metalled Toads against the North Island’s 50 per cent, it would therefore be seen that the North Island was in greater need of improved roading facilities. Mr Murray proceeded to explain that the money for the maintenance would be allocated by the Board finding one-third of the amount and the counties twothirds. The road figures given in the circulars to the local bodies had been challenged as being incorrect. He would like to tell the conference that those figures had been taken from the records of the Government Statistician. The chairman then called on the delegates to ask any questions relative to the information supplied br the previous speakers. Mr Walters asked if it was proposed to grade the roads according to whether they were first-grade or subsidiary roads. Mr Jull said that so far as the grouping was concerned the Government had the power to gazette them after the conference that day. The Highways Board had to be largely guided by the county delegates’ wishes. The district councils would then be guided by work under Clause 11 of the Highways Act. The function of any county would be very little interfered with. There was always a chance of the finances of the Government and those of a county .being disturbed, The Government was going to assist, the counties to obtain additional revenue by the enforcing of taxation on motor vehicles. Up to the present the taxation of motor vehicles had been quite trivial compared to the cost of . the maintenance of roads used by those motor vehicles. The Highways Board would be the controlling body over roads established, and would be responsible for the proper maintenance of them. It would not be possible to rigidly lay down a standard for all roads. If a road was a metalled one it would be maintained up to a standard of a metalled one. Whatever the standard of construction of a road, it would be maintained up to that standard.

Mr Walters said that he saw a danger in the Highways Board having the voting of large sums of money on certain roads. If the Board subsidised, -say, a metalled road, then in the course of time the cost of maintenance of that road would swallow up all the revenue. He did not see that the county would benefit to anj r extent.

Mr Jull said that the counties concerned were responsible for the recommendations to the Highways Board for the class of road that was to be put down. AS the counties had to find t.wo-thirds of the money for the maintenance of the roads it would be incumbent upon them to see that only suitable classes of roads should be constructed.

Mr W. C. Motion said that it was understood that the counties would be called on tp find half the money for the cost of construction, the money to be raised by a loan, which wduld have to be sanctioned by the ratepayers. Then, supposing the ratepayers were not agreeable to raising

a loan, he asked how would the county get on for the. construction or maintenance of that, portion of the highway.

Tn reply Mr Jull said that ample provision for. such cases was to oe found in Sections 18, 19, and 22 of the Highways Act. Should ratepayers turn down a loan for roads, then the burden of the scheme would be largely theirs. It was only reasonable to look for some form of partnership between the State and the counties. The county system of separate ridings was not a success. He thought that the broadening principles of the Highways Board would have the desired effect of far better and more effective administration in the different counties.

Mr Motion said that he had listened to Mr Jull’s remarks, but he did not yet understand the exact position of matters in the event of ratepayers refusing to shoulder the responsibility of raising a loan. He foresaw trouble with regard to the subsidiary roads. He - considered that, those classes of roads were of greater importance even than the main highway roads. Mr Jull asked if it was considered that the cost of maintenance of i main arterial road that ran parallel with a railway would not be forthcoming from the local bodies’ territory through which it passed. Mr C. Johnston said that he thought the ratepayers would not sanction a loan for a road, say, over the Rangariris. They would far rather see such a road go nearer to their properties, and not be rated tp provide a road for the travelling public.

Mr J. M. Davies said that, although the Highways Board was providing half the sum for the cost of construction, the roads in his county, being situated nearer to Auckland, would be used more by the travelling public than by the ratepayers, and the cost of maintenance would be enormous. Mr H. Lowe said he understood that there was provision for a compulsory clause in the Highways Board Act relating to the raising of loans. The chairman intimated that the meeting had been called solely for the purpose of considering the grouping system. There had been enough time devoted to a general discussion, and the conference would now have to confine its .energies to the matter for which the meeting was called, namely, the grouping system. Mr C. Johnston then moved that the grouping system as set out by the Highways Board should be adopted. Seconded by Mr S. Reid. Mr Hinton asked what would be the position, supposing rhe meeting totally disapproved of the grouping system as set out Mr Jull said that the Board would be pleased to consider any constructive criticism and suggestion at that meeting. He did not, anticipate that the meeting would wholly disagree with the grouping system. Mr Hinton asked what would haopen if the meeting approved of the grouping system, and then found that the counties concerned could not raise the required finance. Mr Jull said that the question of finance did not come into the question of grouping. Mr A, W. Babbage asked if town boards were eligible for representation on the District Highways Councils. Mr Jull replied that “io provision had been made up to the present. He thought,, however, tihat the power of the Highways Board was sufficiently wide to enable a contribution to be made to town boards. He said that he was prepared to 100k 1 into the matter on his return to Wellington. Mr C. Motion said that no doubt the grouping system was very fine, but he would like to know more about the financial aspect before voting on the question. He endorsed the works to be undertaken on the subsidiary roads, but he was not in accord with raising loans for main highways that passed through counties. He did not see that the present difficulties of roading would be very greatly improved upon as far as the lesser roads were concern®!, Mr T. G, Murray explained that a great feature of the Highways Board was assured finance, which he con-’ sidered was a decided improvement on the old system of applying for £ for £ subsidy. The standard of roads would be determined by the amount of traffic. The Highways Board would be only too willing to consider any proposals or .suggestions that might go forward from the District Highways Councils. If the District High-, ways Councils were opposed to the route of any particular road, then the Highways Board would necessarily have to consider tfie wishes or suggestions of that council.

Mr Robinson said that he had listened with great interest to the various speakers on the financial aspect, but he was only prepared to go into the grouping system. His council was of the. opinion that a modification uf the group was most necessary. As the group was at present set out there was very little community of interest between the counties. His county was of the opinion that the grouping system was too cumbersome and unwieldy.' He therefore moved as an amendment: “That the South Auckland No. 2 Group should comprise Piako, Matamata, Thames, Coromandel, Hauraki Plains, and Ohinemvri Counties only.” The Chairman : Coromandel County has written agreeing to the present system of grouping. Che resolution was then put, and was carried on the voices, the Ohinemuri County representatives dissenting. Mr Jull explained that the whole of the tyre tax would go into the revenue fund of the Highways Board. The Government’s part in the scheme was, briefly, that the money it at present supplied for the ponstr,uetion and maintenance of roads, together with such roads, would be handed over to the Highways Board. The Government would also pass legislation levying taxes pn motor vehicles, and such taxes would "be handed over to the Board, also. Mr Murray explained that the Public Works Department had spent some £650/000 on roads during last year, and of that amount £200,000 was |

spent on roads that would probably be taken over by the Highways Board. Mr Miller said ’that after listening to the discussion his views on the matter had been considerably altered. He would like to know what attitude the Highways Board would take to a county considering the subsidiary roads before the main arterial roads. In determining the “feeding” roads, he understood that the Board would accept that responsibility. He was of the opinion that subsidiary roads were of the utmost importance. The district councils should give careful consideration in that direction. As regards the various routes the roads should take, he thought the success of the scheme would depend to a large extent on that factor. Mr Jull said that it was unreasonable to suppose that any county should present an obstacle to prevent the Highways Board taking a road through a county. Due consideration would be given by the board in connection with the amount of traffic likely to occur on each and every road. The Board would have to be alive to proper consideration of the roads that carried the heavy traffic. Te thought that legislation would be passed to provide for additional expenditure on such roads through the counties. The ratepayers’ interests would thus be preserved by the provision of additional revenue. Mr C. Motion expressed the thanks of the conference to the chairman for presiding, and also to Messr Jull and Murray for the valuable information they had supplied. He said that he was of the opinion that additional power should be given the delegates of the District Highways Councils to meet such difficulties as had been discussed that day. Mr H. Lowe moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Waikato County Council for arranging the conference, and he felt sure the delegates heartily appreciated the action. He thought that much valuable information had been obtained at the meeting. The votes of thanks were carried with acclamation.