HIGHWAY CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3641, 21 May 1927, Page 4

HIGHWAY CONFERENCE.

MOTORISTS’ PROPOSALS. PETROL TAX ADVOCATED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 18. A conference between representatives of county councils and the Main Highways Board took place at Christchurch, Mr F. W. Furkert, chairman of the board, presiding. All the members of tire board and over 100 representatives of county councils were present. Suggestions were made but no resolutions regarding them were actually put to the meeting. Mr A. E Ansell, president of the South Island Motor Union, put forward the motorists' proposals urging the board to formulate a scheme of coordination with the counties and a scheme for safeguarding new and reconstructed main highways and thenproper maintenance. He also, on behalf of motorists, asked the hoard in case of the local authorities refusing to carry out in a reasonable manner the maintenance of main highways to use the powers conferred on it by the Act. Mr F. W. Freeman (Canterbury Automobile Association) submitted proposals for the classification of roads, with a view to increased subsidies, viz., £3 for £1 for roads carrying the heaviest traffic, £2 10s for £1 for lightest bitumen roads and £1 10s for £1 for ordinary macadam roads. The counties’ representatives asked that the South Island maintenance subsidy be increased substantially, for greater liberality on the part of the board; that a petrol tax be recommended to the Government and that the board afford extra assistance when unfavourable conditions aro experienced and local financial resources were inadequate. These proposals were discussed but no motions in regard to them were put to the meeting which however passed a motion of appreciation of the work of the board.