THE MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT.

Shannon News, 10 July 1923, Page 3

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT.

ITS CHIEF PROVISIONS. In view of the fact that the Highways Board has now been constituted, the following outline of the Act, submitted to the Horowhenua County Council by the chairman, Cr. Monk, will be of interest:— The Board shall consist of five members, two of whom may be officers of the Public Works Department or any other State Department, one member at least being a member of the Public Works Department; two members to be appointed with the (approval of the Minister of Public Works by the New Zealand Counties’ Association.; one member to be appointed, with above approval, by the motor owners; Board to hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General.

Highway Districts. —The Boaird Shall divide New Zealand into highway districts; in defining boundaries of highway districts, regard shall be paid to geographical situation land community of interest. . For each’ highway district the Board shall appoint a District Highways Council constituted as follows: An Engineer being an officer of the Public Works Department, one person to be .appointed by each County Council whose district is-wholly or partly within the highway district. Travelling expenses of the Highways Council to be paid by the various local bodies. >

Power of Highways Board. —(a) To decl/aire the main, highways;. (b) to \ construct said main highways, or delegate .such powers to construct to the various local bodies; (c) the Board may hire to or from any local body road machinery; (d) tall main highways under the Act shall be, classified by the Board us primary or secondaryhighways and shall declare the standard of construction and maintenance of such highways. Function of District Highway Councils.—The Council shall each year submit to the Board recommendation to—(a) The public highways (if any) within the district not being main highways under the Act, that, should be declared main highways; (b) the work to be undertaken, each year, in the district and whether to be undertaken by the Board or by the severallocal bodies ; (c) an estimate of the amount required to be spent; (d) the proportion to be paid by the Board • and the amount to be pajid 1 by the local authorities.

Financial Provisions.—Authority is given under this Act for the Finance Minister to raise ai loan of £3,000,000 for construction or re-construction of main highways—the money so raised to be paid into, a special account to> be called “The Main Highways Account.” The moneys now being received by way of Customs duties and paid into the highways account may be pledged as security for the interest, sinking fund and other charges in respect to the loan. Section 18 provides that in the case of maintenance that the local authority shall provide two-t!hirds of the cost of such and the balance shall be paid by the Highways Board. Section 10 provides that the ,cost of construction or re-construction shall be one half by the local authority and one half by the Board. Section 22 provides that the Board may undertake work without contribution from a local authority, or may provide a greater proportion of the cost than is prescribed under sections 18 or 19. Section' 21: the apportionment of moneys received by way of licenses for motor vehicles and Customs duties, between the North and South Islands, shall be fixed according to the number of motor vehicles~in each island.