THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Shannon News, 27 June 1924, Page 3

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

.local Bodies borrowing. V - The question of local body borrowing under the Main Highways Act was brought to Ahe notice of the Minister of Public W r orks yesterday . by a. deputation from the Horowhenua County Council, introduced by Mr W. H. Field, M.P. The point raised was Mat local bodies totd no autliv ority to borrow under the Act, Works authorised by the iiighways Board were shus ibeing held up, because local bodies had no authority to 'raise loans to finance them hail of the I capital cost ' { The Minister said the Government I was ' aware. of the position, and was preparing measures to meet the position as soon as possible. .Mr Field explained that the county was responsible for 48 miles of the* main road from Wellington* to the north, its portion stretching- from Waikanae to Tokomaru. It wis... proposed _to form this road to a width of 24 feet, the bitumen paving to be IS feet wide. The road had,"been declared a main highway, and the Highways Board (had accepted the county's scheme. For the latter to do its part, a.loan of £89,000 was required, but there was no authority, to borrow. Unless that authority were enacted, the county would miss the paving season, which might mean a year's delay. Mr Coafces replied that legislation would be required, and the necessary i ckiuee was being drafted. He was not sure whettier the difficulty could be overcome by validation, but, if it could, then a ciause wouild be inserted i'n an eariv Finance Bill. The Prime Minister had. had the clause drafted. .He hoped to have something definite to tell them, within a week.

Mr G. A. Monk .further requested that special financial provision should be made in the case of the road referred to. It was mostly used by traffic from without the county; the county was long and narrow, and had Jo maintain an unusually long stretch of highway, a.nd the burden on ratepayers would be heavy. It

r \vas asked,; therefore, that inorejissistance than the hall undertaken '!>>'• the Highways Board should be gi\ uii. A grant ol £3OOO to £4OOO lroiu the Puulic Works Department - lor • formation was' suggested

The Minister replied /that the road ' had been declared a-main highway and the Public Works Department coudd, not contribute a penny piece. , 'Bie Board's cotntribution was aUsa:< limited-by statute tb-.oQ,, per cent. HtT would, however,-get the Chief Engineer (Mr F. W. Furkeri) examine the position and see if • anybhing.: couUT 3>e" done. , '■: "*'