MAIN HIGHWAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 11

MAIN HIGHWAYS

SYSTEM UNSATISFACTORY

DIRECT CONTROL URGED The construction and maintenance of main highways was the subject of a remit from Papakura, at the conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce today. It. considered that the present system was unsatisfactory and that all main arterial roads should be nationalised and controlled by the Main Highways Board. Mr. A. Willis (Papakura), in moving the remit, said that most of the traffic between Auckland and Papakura was “outside traffic.” Local bodies in the districts it went througli had provided much of the 'cost. In the proposal to extend the road the local bodies would have to find £30,000 of the necessary £120,000. He could see no possibility of a loan being carried. Mr. A. F. Wright (Christchurch) suggested raising a loan of £2,000,000, part of the motor revenue of £1.000,000 to be used in providing the charges on that loan. Thus the burden of the arterial roads could be removed from local bodies ar.d ratepayers. Such a scheme would relieve also unemployment. Mr. A. G. Lunn (Auckland) said that if the main highways were taken from any control by local bodies they would be put directly into the hands of the Government. This meant nationalisation which was not desired. The remit was carried.