THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1921, Page 5

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

CONTROL BY THE GOVERNMENT. OBJECTS OF THE BILL. TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLES. By Telegraph.—Tress Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Pub- ; lie Works) explained bis Highways Bill to ' the Counties Conference to-day. The chief beneficiaries, he said, would be those who : wished to travel at a high rate of speed, ; and taxation would be on fast - vehicles, j not horse-drawn traffic, which bad no need 'of special roads. In addition, to the rev- ! enue from tyres and motor licenses there i would be an allocation from the Public i Works fund. Last year £230,000 was I spent on the main roads outlined, apart ; from £62,000 on road maintenance. The special fund would, he hoped, come to about £500,000, or not far short. i He deprecated any political interference { with the work. As the Minister responsible I he would not have his efforts upset by an agitation got up in any part of the country. It was proposed to take over about two thousand miles of road, the average cost of which would run from £2O to £BO per mile. In answer to a number of questions, the Minister said double license fees would be charged; the fees came under the Motor Vehicles Act. He proposed to put the Bill before Parliament as drafted, and ask Parliament to deal with it. The Highways Board would consist of the chief engineer (Mr. Furkert) and two other departmental engineers, one of whom would be specially qualified on'road matters. The other two members would be appointed by the Gover-nor-in-Council, but whether they would be engineers or business men would be decided later. Constructional work, such as { deviations, road-making and bridge-build- i ing would come out of the Public Works i fund, and maintenance out of the Con- I solidated Fund.

There would be no rebate for motorists residing in places away from the main arterial roads; it would be a straight out tax for a straight out purpose. The board ' could allow local bodies to do some of the work, and could enter into contracts and make whatever seemed the best arrangements. There was no provision in the Bill for taking over from local bodies special loans lor road work completed. What actually would be the percentage of the tyre tax he could not say, nor could he any indication, as it was a matter for the Customs Department. Mr. Jull, president oj the conference, in thanking the Minister, said he doubted very much whether the scheme would come into force, but Mr. Coates had tackled a problem they would all like to see solved one way or the other, and they could give him credit for an earnest desire to do something.

USERS OF THE ROAD.

the question of taxation. SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTROL. Wellington, Last Night. The proposals for the construction and maintenance of arterial roads were discussed by the arterial roads conference to-day, representatives being prej sent from all parts of the Dominion. A resolution was passed expressing the < opinion that if direct taxation is imposed by the Government, local bodies should not have power, by by-law or otherwise, to change the license fee or other perpetual annual or recurring charges on motor vehicles, except those plying for hire. It was suggested that the duties and powers of arterial road boards should be to decide which roads should be mam ; roads, and what form of road was best , for particular localities; assist local i bodies with information and regulate j the limiting of iloads on any main | roads, and where advisable prohibit traffic where and when its use would j endanger a road.

It was decided that all new taxation on motors be earmarked for interest and sinking fund on the capital cost of construction or reconstruction of main arterial roads suitable for motor traffic, and further for the maintenance of permanent roads when constructed. It was decided to recommend two boards of control, one for each island, representation to be given to local governing bodies and motor taxpayers; the tyre tax revenue to be allocated to the two boards in proportion to the number of motor vehicles registered in the two islands; all moto: vehicles to be registered annually at a fee of £l, and license fees to be eliminated from all motor vehicles, which should be licensed at a nominal fee of ss.