JOB FOR PUBLIC WORKS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5292, 27 June 1928, Page 1

JOB FOR PUBLIC WORKS

NATIONALISATION OF HIGHWAYS. COUNTIES' REMIT CARRIED. Introducing a remit that all arterial main highways should be nationalised at the Rural Counties Conference in Hamilton last week, Mr W. Newell (Waikato) stated that the Public Work Department should manage all the main highways. In the Waikato County there were a number of loans raised by setttlers for construction of roads to and from the railway line. The settlers were paying for more than they should towards the main highways. For over 30 years the Public Works had done absolutely nothing to his district. The loans he mentioned were bei.ng “cut out” through the growth of motor traffic. It was the duty of the Government to construct and maintain the arterial roads. The man on the land should not have to pay for road used not by him but by the travelling public. Mr T. H. Henderspn, in seconding, thought that nationalisation of the roads; would solve many problems of speed of traffic and maintenance. Opinion was expressed that the Public Works Department was not capable of handling the main highways. Mr H. M. Corbett (Ohinemuri) remarked that consideration of main highway matters took up much time and trouble with his council. Mr s. C. Macky (Waitoa) thought the position .was entirely different in Auckland, where the suburban areas had benefited from the concrete roads. Construction of a concrete road in a rural area might not raise the value of the surrounding property very considerably. He believed that complete nationaliation was inadvisable. The remit was .carried, four delegates dissenting. The Commissioner of Rural Intermediate Credits, Mr J. AV. McDonald, the Public Trustee of the Dominion, has just issued a booklet entitled “New Finance for Farmers;,” which explains in detail the new system of intermediate credit. This publication will be of great assistance to those who are interested in this form of financing.