MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1922, Page 5

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

FURTHER DETAILS OF BILL. MINISTER EXPLAINS FEATURES. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. By Telegraph.—Pre* Association Wellington, Last Night. The second reading of the Main Highways Bill was moved in the House to-day by the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works). The Minister justified the proposal to get up a special Highways Board, on the ground that there were so many local bodies with conflicting interests which made them incapable of properly managing main highways. No main highways were specified in' the Bill; the decision as to which was the most important highway rested with the board, and it was not a simple matter to decide. The competition of roads with railways was also a matter for the board, but he wanted to say that they could not shut their eyes to the value of motor traffic. So growing in importance was this that in time some of our railways would have to be relegated to a secondary place, and, perhaps, torn up altogether in many cases. Before a new railway was built, the question of how a good road would affect the district would have to be considered.

Dealing with the financial aspect of the question, he said the Bill did not give effect to the county councils’ idea that the Government subsidy towards roads should be on the basis of the rates collected, nor did the Bill impose any taxation by which revenue could be raised. It anticipated that it would be done in some other way. Counties were, however, getting assistance towards construction and maintenance which they neyer had before, but in future any money gix’en for this purpose would be given with a definite objective. After deliberation it was decided that there should be only one board for the Dominion, and the board would consist of: (a) member (who may be an officer of the Public Works Department, or of any other department of State or any other person), to be appointed as chairman of the board p (b) one member being an officer of the Public Works Department; (c) one member to be appointed with the approval of the Minister of Public Works, on the recommendation of tfie executive body of the New Zealand Counties* Association; (d) one member to be appointed with the approval of the Minister of Public Works as a representative of persons being owners of motor vehicles, or engaged in dealing in motor vehicles. Four members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor-General for a period of three years, and any such member may be reappointed or removed. This board would group New Zealand into highway districts on geographical considerations, in which highways would be classified as primary and secondary, according to importance. Local committees would co-operate with the board.

The finance of the board was provided by power given the Minister of Finance, who may from time to time borrow on the security of the public revenues of New Zealand such moneys as may be required for the purposes of the construction or reconstruction of main highways under the Act, not exceeding in the aggregate a sum of £3,000,000. This borrowing probably would be spread over ten years. Into the credit of the highways account would be paid the moneys appropriated by Parliament and certain customs duties on tyres, etc., but the Consolidated Fund could not be expected to bear the whole burden of maintenance.

Some revenue must be provided by users the road and £150,000 per annum would have to be found in this direction, but the method of raising it had not yet been determined. The method of appropriating motor revenue between the North and South 'lslands would be on a basis of the number of motor vehicles in each island, as that, after consideration, had been determined as the fairest way. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) said it was quite evident the revenue derived from the tyre tax—£74,ooo was raised in eight months—was not going to be sufficient to pay interest on loans raised under the Bill if the full borrowing power were exercised, and it was clear that some other method must be adopted. He doubted if power was given under the Bill to take land for roads under the Public Works Act and it should bi. The maintenance of roads after construction was such an important question that it should ‘be made quite clear to local bodies hpw this was going to be done before the Bill was passed. He regretted the Minister had not done this yet, and neither had the method of the classification of roads been clearly explained. This would apparently depend entirely on the personnel of the board. Though the Bill was far from perfect he recognised that something must be done, and he therefore would support the second rending. Mr. O. Hawken (Egmont) said it was clear that matters could not go on as they had been going for many years. Local bodies had practically come to the .end of their resources and additional revenue must be found. The Bill was a fair compromise between the conflicting interests and was a reasonable solution of the problem. It was the best proposal of the kind yet placed before Parliament.

2Jr. G. Witty (Riccarton) condemned the proposal to tax motor vehicles on a flat basis, because a man whi> only used his car” once a month would pay as much as a furniture van running over the roads all day and every day. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) contended that while there necessarily would be a good deal o-f expense in connection with the scheme, it would not all be expenditure. There would be a good deal of saving owing to the use of more improved methods.

Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) deprecated an attempt to introduce tlie country versus town spirit into the proposal to establish main highways. He said the towns were just as much interested in good roads as the country, and were quite as prepared to pay their share.

The debate was continued until 11 o’clock, when the Minister replied. He contended that as local bodies had ample opportunity of considering the proposals in the Bill there was no need to

refer the measure in its present form to them, members being quite competent to voice their opinions. He did not pretend the Bill was perfect; it did not give all that was required, but it was a beginning, and in that respect it was of vital importance to tha Dominion. One of its best features was that it removed the allocation of public moneys from political control to an independent board.

The second reading was agreed to on ie