MAINTENANCE OF ROADS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5217, 16 December 1927, Page 3

MAINTENANCE OF ROADS

SECONDARY HIGHWAYS, REPRESENTATIONS TO BOARDThe system of financing the maintenance of roads in the Hauraki Plains County was discussed by the Hauraki Plains County Council yesterday, following the reading of the following clause in the engineer’s report:—

“All main highways have been graded in and patched where necessary. Continued dry weather and increasing motor traffic are causing considerable wear on roads.”

Cr. Hicks, asked whether the council would benefit from the Perol Tax. The chairman said it was hoped to have all. the roads mentioned in the County Enacting Scheme declared secondary roads under the Act. Cr. Madgwick pointed out the hardship on such ridings as Turua, which ■had a heavy road rate, no highway subsidy, and now the petrol tax. He favoured the petrol tax, but was of opinion the county should alter its method of rating. His riding carried a great deal of outside traffic, but the maintenance of the roads was not costly on account of the high initial cost.

The county chairman agreed, and pointed out that Cr. Madgwick had always supported the County Reading Scheme.

Crs- Reid and Harris advocated restricting the speeds of motors to the national limit without exception.

Cr. Walton urged that Cr. Miller, the council’s representative on the District Highways' Council, take up the matter of .hawing roads in the county declared secondary ma n highways.

A motion to that effect was carried, and the works committee was instructed to go Into the matter of preparing the council’s recommendation to the Higbways’Jßoartf.