HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3691, 15 September 1927, Page 2

HIGHWAYS BOARD.

FARMER’S BEST FRIEND.

Praise of the work being done by the Main Highways Board was expressed at a meeting’ of the Oroua County Council when the chairman (Mr A. Campbell) referred to the board as the best friend that the farmer and the ratepayer had ever had. .

The matter was brought up by a resolution received from the Tauranga County Council, expressing that body’s opinion that the time had come when the users of roads should' pay the whole cost of their maintenance, and that the Government should be asked to introduce legislation providing that the whole of that cost should, be paid by the Main Highways Board. This, the Tauranga! County Council considered, would leave the country rates available for the maintenance of by-roads, all of which were deteriorating, with a consequent increase in the already heavy burden carried by the farmer. Mi’. Campbell told the Oroua County Council that h.e did. not think this was fair request to make. The local body which .neglected its by-roads had only itself to blame. From his experience of the Main Highways Board, the work it was doing on the highways gave county councils ample funds and time for the repair of by-roads. Councillor McElroy supported the chairman’s remarks, saying that the Highways Board had given great assistance to local body finances by subsidies. Not only that, hut by easing the finances of the local bodies they automatically gave assistance to the farmer. It was decided to inform the Tauranga Council that the Oroua County could nor see its way clear to support the resolution.