THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 287, 9 May 1929, Page 1

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

DISCUSSED BY FARMERS. Against Nationalisation. Protest to Prime Minister. At the counties conference 108 out of 120 counties were represented when the remit from the Tauranga County Council in favour of nationalising main highways was discussed. Only four representatives spoke in favour of it and when the motion was put to the meeting there was a loud chorus of “ noes ” against the motion.

In the above words Mr. J. W. Anderson, chairman of the Matamata County Council, summed up the feeling of county councils in regard to the proposal to nationalise the main highways, at the annual meeting of the Matamata branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union.

Mr. Anderson, who lead the discussion, said he had given the matter considerable thought and had heard it discussed on many occasions and he felt it was not in the interests of farmers. Under nationalisation all the petrol tax would be utilised. The automobile associations j were seeking greater membership and in his opinion they had to he alive to what was going on in view of the number of representatives of the motor interests on the Transport Board. Another factor was that if the roads were nationalised it was felt that the Government of I the day would influence the Highways ['Board to use the unemployed on roach ! construction, as was done now by the | Public Works Department, and in that case they would not get 20 shilI. lings for their pound. The new • Transport Board might also affect [ the position, for nut of 10 members six represented the motor Interests. There was one labour representative and one Government. One duty of the new board was apparently to classify the roads, and if that was so “we will get it, hot there.” (Hear, hear.) It meant that the motor dealer would have as much say as the counties had. If the roads were nationalised they would have to be whittled down in order for the amount of money available to cover the work. There was an idea abroad that the Main Highways Board was hoarding up money. The position was that they had some money in hand but this was due to local bodies not picking up their subsidies. If the local bodies could not find their quotas the subsidies set aside by the board remained intact. The Waipa County Council was a case in point. The council had been offered a £3 for £1 subsidy by the board but would , not lift it as it thought it was not enough. Taken all round Mr. Anderson thought they were doing fairly well out of the Main Highways Board and that they should leave well alone. Mr. S. H. Judd, representative of Maungatautari riding, pointed out that presuming nationalisation meant someone other than the counties doing the work there was an aspect which would seriously affect the ratepayers. It would mean that the Public Works Department’s staff and plant would be engaged on certain main roads and the Matamata county staff and plant would have to traverse the same roads and thus lose much time. Secondly, through the council doing the main roads it enabled them to provide a good staff and plant, but if this work was taken away the county could not afford to pay for such highly-skilled men and they would not get the same quality of work. The smaller counties were suffering from this defect now and nationalisation meant them going back to the days of road boards. Mr. W. H. Allen, member for Okoroire riding, stated that at one time he favoured the nationalisation of the main highways but the position was now altered. What they had heard that night had convinced him that it was not in their interests and if they were not alive to the question it would be forced upon them. They had been asleep in regard to the Transport Board, which gave the motor interests and labour a bigger say than those who had to bear the burden. ,

Mr. W. S. Wilson, member for Matamata riding, stated that the Transport Board was being forced on them and it behoved all farmers to keep up with events and to watch their interests.

On the motion of Messrs. Anderson and Wilson it was then unanimously agreed that the Matamata branch of the Farmers’ Union express its disapproval of the proposal to nationalise the main highways. On tne motion of Messrs. Ander-

son and Allen the meeting further decided that the branch protest against the allotment of the personnel of the Transport Board. Mr. Anderson pointed out, that there was no objection to the individual members but solely to the allotment of membership. It was decided to forward both resolutions to the Prime Minister, to •Ir. C. H. Clinkard, M.P., and to the Auckland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Speaking later in the meeting, Mr. B. C. Taylor, president of the Matamata Chamber of Commerce, empha 7 sised the good work done by the Main Highways Board. The roads in and around iVlatamata could not be recognised after five years’ work and this change could not have been effected in 20 years without the assistance of the board. In his opinion they should now agitate for an extension of the benefits to the backblocks. Okauia was a case in point. They paid in far greater proportion than those on main roads, yet they got absolutely no benefit.

[The personnel and allotments of the Transport Board are as follow : Messrs. R. Masters (Stratford), Government nominee and chairman : H. C. Jones (Auckland), North Island Motor Union: H. HaHiday (Dunedin). South Island Motor Union ; G. A. Troup (Wellington), New Zealand Municipal Association ; E. Smith (Christchurch), New Zealand Maste> Carriers’ Association ; H. L. Rogers. (Wellington). Motor Traders’ Afeso- 1 ciation ; A. Me.Fortune (Wellington), labour ; W. Morrison (Maxwell), New Zealand Counties’ Association ; H. F. Knight (Wellington), service car proprietors ; L. A. Lonergari (Wellington), motor omnibus proprietors. Of the above, six represent motor interests and two local bodies, while there is one representative of labour and one of the Government. These allotments stand unless altered by an amendment to the Act, though of course the personnel may change.—Ed. Record.!