MAIN HIGHWAYS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2618, 11 August 1923, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS

DISCUSSED BY COUNTIES’ CONFERENCE.

Wellington, August 10. The principal business before the Counties’ Conference to-day was the report of the committee on highways. The clauses were considered seriatum and the" following passed: (1) That with a view to giving the Highways Act a trial as far as the number of boards is concerned, we feel that the present constitution of one highways board should be accepted, (2) The committee feels that as by-laws and regulations relating to heavy traffic and other traffic on roads, together with liceiii sed lees, will have to be considered by the Highways Board in respect to roads created by the main highways, the committee recommends that such regulations and by-laws be made on the recommendation of district councils, and that fees from licenses, etc., be devoted to the counties within that group. (3) The committee feels that restrictions relating to the number of members of the executive committee of the Highways Council be removed, so that the executive committee may be such as is recommended by the district council. (4) The committee feels that it is desirable that representation on a district council should be amended to have more regard to the size and valuation of constituent counties. (5) The raising of loans committee recommends the adoption of Rangitikei remit as follows : “That the Main Highways Act 1922, be amended so as to provide that the Government shall raise the whole of the money required, and collect from local bodies their share of the annual interest and sinking fund,” with the following words added : “Provided such loans are raised in accordance with the provisions of the Local Bodies Loans Act.” (6) That in addition to powers under section 22, the committee feels that the Highways Board on the recommendation of district councils, should have power to grant in special circumstances a greater proportion of the cost than is prescribed by Sections 18 and 19 of the Act, or that such addition be made by a grant from the public works fund. (7) The Committee think an oversight has been made in not giving assistance to town districts which arc separated from counties, and have main highways traversing their districts, and recommends that provision be made for this omission. The committee feels that any increased revenue required for motor taxation should be obtained by an increased revenue from tyre tax, but that the queston as to whether the tax should be on the value or on the size of tyres is an expert question, better left to the motor trades and the Customs Department. We feel, however, in view of the difficulties which we understand exist in charging duties on tyres attached to motor vehicles, all Customs duties relating to our motor cars, as well as tyres, should be credited to the Main Highways Fund.