The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1922. MAIN HIGHWAYS’ BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1922. MAIN HIGHWAYS’ BOARD.

In common fairness to the Minister for Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates), he may well be congratulated on the admirable manner in which he moved the second reading of the Main Highways Bill in the House on Tuesday. His explanation of the measure was lucid, tactful and not without its due quota of logic and common-sense. The Bill can, of course, be regarded from two points of view—the national and the parochial—but as those who handle the telescope the wrong way up are the only critics likely to adopt the parochial view, it will save time to regard the new departure purely from a national aspect. It has long been considered that the main highways of the country should be the concern of the nation and not left to the various' roading authorities through which these roads pass. The principle enunciated in the Bill accords with the above contention and finds expression in the main provision—a special Highways Board for the whole Dominion. This is essential in two ways: firstly, to secure uniformity in methods of construction and upkeep ; secondly, to ensure these roads being equal in importance to the railways in consequence of the advent of motor traffic, competing with the railways. Apparently the first duty of the Highways Board will be to decide which are the most important highways in the country, divided into two classes —primary and secondary—and, as the Minister remarked, that is by no means a simple matter to arrange. With regard to the constitution, of the board, the majority of the members are to be nominated by the Government, while the Counties’ Association and the motor industry will each have a representative. Power is given to the Finance Minister to borrow not more than three millions for the construction or reconstruction of main roads, while into, the credit of the highways account will be paid the money appropriated by Parliament, as well as the Customs duties on tyres, supplemented by revenue derived from the users of the road, the details in respect to which have yet to be settled, though the amount is estimated at £150,000 a year. Evidently the measure is meant as an initial instalment of legislation designed to put the national scheme into operation, and therefore to some extent the provisions are tentative, while experience in the work can alone disclose what further powers and provisions are needed in order to perfect the scheme. It will be a decidedly progressive move to nationalise the main highways, and thereby relieve local bodies from the burden of administration. It is an honest endeavor to deal with a complex question. There are manifest advantages in these highways being entrusted to the control of experts whose object should be to obtain the best and most durable roads possible, and it is quite right that those who have been demanding good permanent roads for motor traffic should contribute a just and fail' proportion to the cost. This is recognised in the measure. It will take several years to carry out the work entailed by these, arterial highways, but, once done, the expense of maintenance should be relatively small. A good feature of the Bill is that the allocation of road grants will in future be the business of the Board, and not be at, as now, the caprice of the Government in : power. It should be the I policy of local bodies to assist the i Highways Board as much as they j can, and to avoid friction. The proposals are made in the best interests of the Dominion as a I whole, and there is every reason [ to expect that the end in view | will be achieved to the benefit of I the whole community.