MAIN HIGHWAYS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 155, 12 April 1930, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS

AN ASHBURTON REQUEST. EXTENSION OF THE ROUTES. (Special to the “Guardian.”) , • TIAIARU, April 11. A meeting of No. 15 District Highways Council was held here yesterday. There were present Messrs F. Langbein (chairman), J. Bitchener, AI.P. (Waimate County), T. Smith (Mackenzie County), T. A. Munro (Waitaki County), K. Mackenzie (Geraldine County), and W. T. Dill (Ashburton County). Mr C. J. Talbot (South Island representative of the Main Highways Board), and Mr T. D. Burnett, ALP., were also present. The chairman said the main object of the meeting that day was to consider requests for additional highways for submission to the Main Highways Board. ~ J Mr Mackenzie: “What about submitting last year’s requests again?” The chairman: “There were so many made that I doubt if the Board would consider them.” The Board’s Finances.

Mr Talbot said that the Board hoped there would not be very many requests made, for their finances were not very assured. Alterations in highways were required from time to time, however; and that was why meetings were being held. It was hoped that District Highways Councils would consider the position seriously. He knew that. some requests would be made, and if they were deserving ones, they would be considered. Mr Bitchener said an additional 2000 miles of highways had been applied for,, but only five miles had been granted in the whole Dominion. In the circumstances, he did not think they could go very far that day. Mr Lill said that he was sorry to hear what Mr Talbot had saj'd. He was just wondering whether it would be safe for him to go home. (Laugh-

A member: “‘We will have to keep you here, then.” Continuing, Mr Lill said that the Ashburton County had a lower percentage than any other County in the Group. His Council had fully discussed the position, and had been emphatic that additional highways were necessary. If they could, not get them, then he did not know what they would do. Some of the roads in his County carried 10 uer cent, more traffic than the main highways, and some relief was essential. They had certain roads which members of the Council knew' nothing of. There were eight Road Boards in the County, and some assistance would have to be obtained. If the Council decided not to do anything in the matter he was sure his County would make application to the Board, whether they got anything or not. The percentage of metalled roads pi his County was 16 whereas Waitaki County had 40 per cent. 1

Cuthbelt.son (engineer to the W aitaki County Council): “No, not bv a long way.” ' J Mr Lill: “Well, the figures were taken from the Local Bodies Handbook. If the figures there are incorrect, then we cannot be blamed.” A Difference in Figures.

Mr Talbot said be thought Mr Bitchener had taken his remarks too literally A circular which had been issued by the Board hinted that the Board would consider a limited liumber o f applications. The Highways Board figures were different from those obtained by Mr Lill, and the Boards figures showed a small mar+i° f dlffer , eilce i? the percentage, for the Board took into consideration all roads including dirt roads, which Had to be maintained. When the applications were before the Board they had endeavoured to brjno- all counties to a Dominion average of about _2 or 23 per cent. There were some which were down to 15 or 16 per cent., and some above 23 per cent but as far as possible they had endeavoured to strike an average Mr Smith said he thought thev would be justified in asking for somi extensions He intended to ask for 12 miles of the Clayton Road, from the junction of the Geraldine-Fairlie lf)Onnn oad ’ Avhl ? h . served upwards of sSlementf Tn mdud { n R Government i j T] ? e . road was the heav- £ S 3 m the Cmmty ’ ol,tsMe Mr Garrick said that the Levels requests WOld u • ver - y modest in their i equests, uhich were for two miles from the Point town boundary to the Plantation Road £p-e,f idar'T Hotel <*« Mr Mackenzie supported Mr Garhe k thounh^tf' + Contlnu . he said ne that, considerino- tho times, and the state of the Board’s finances, counties should makte t eir lequests as s, " al] as Possible, and lie f rn.T\"\ tend a PP ] v for any addiimna! highways for his County this

for the Waimate County Mi- Bitchener said that several ™ quests had been made last year. s ' fai as they were concerned, they had hy me secmSSv Wh^ h , ™' e not Sched . seconclaiy highways, and flip-,, would like to see them 'included Their requests last year were heavv * W thev were all short lengths, which car ried a tremendous amount of traffic If highways were going £ £ m£ ed ’ The W fi S to pr ® ss for 14 bridee in the ™ 1 the second was three miles fS St Andrew’s to Bluecliffs corner Mr Munro said he was in 'an nwK waid position, so far as Waitaki County was concerned, for they were asking for a senaration 3 Cle A member.- “Not divorce.” (LaughMr Bitchener: “You still want maintenance, though.” ant What About Ashburton? Mr Munro said he would apply for seven miles of road from the Oa'maru side of the v\ aitaki bridge up to where th ® r ° ad a S ain at abjft Mr Ml. what ieft^ L, ;i;„uXj t t 0 take ": liat is The chairman: “Other members given you a lead.” Mr Bill said there were hundreds of miles of roads in the County, some ot which were not even formed, and I'eie not likely to be for the next 50 years. His first request would be for mil es of road, commencing at Wmcnmore and running up tlie Bauriston road to Barr Hill. The next W3S 1/ miles from the Timvald railway station, to the Mayfield bridge, which was the shortest road to Mayfield by mdes. The third was from the Chertsey Hotel to Kyle, which carried all the traffic from the sea, a distance of to m v. es - „ 1 he fourth request was for in , s f lOlll Tin wald to Waterton ; the fifth was seven miles from the River Road to the huts at Hakatere ; the sixth was 11 miles from Barr Hill

to the main Alethven Road; and the seventh was seven miles at the Rangitata end of the Maronan Road, from D ism ore to Carevv. Air Dill said that he had more requests, hut as some of them would have to come out, he would not ask for them. The chairman said that the total requests from Ashburton were 77 miles. Mr Lill: “I was going to ask for 93 miles.” A Question of Just Dues. Air Alackenzie suggested that Air Lill should cut his applications down a bit. The total now 1 being asked for was 125 miles, and as there were 20 groups in the Dominion, and they all asked for the same, then the Board would have to consider 2500 miles, which was hopeless. The chairman caid the capital value ■of the Ashburton County was about one-third of that of the whole Group, and if they asked for one-third of the allocations, it would he quite fair. Air Smith agreed to reduce the length on the Clayton Road to eight miles. The chairman said it did not appear to him to be reasonable for Ashburton to ask for more than two of its roads. Apparently Ashburton considered they .had not i£)t justice in the past. Air Dili: “That is the point.” Air Talbot: “The Road Boards are the stumbling blocks.” Air Lill: “I would like to. see them wiped out.” Members: “Hear, hear.” The chairman: “Other Counties have trimmed their requests down to 25 miles, so it is up to Ashburton to come down.” Air Burnett: “Which road carries the most traffic—Water ton f” All* Lill: “I can’t touch that. It is in my riding.” (Laughter).

Maintenance Costs. The chairman said it was interesting to note the maintenance costs in the various Counties in view of the suggestion that Ashburton had not had its just dues in the past. Last year, by way of subsidy, Ashburton received £12,017, Geraldine £14,000 (of which £IO,OOO was for paving), Levels £5200. MackenzieJ£ssoo, Waimate £4500, and Waitaki £7700, so that it did not appear that Ashburton had lieen so badly treated. Air Mackenzie moved that the Council agrees to submit, for the approval of the Alain Highways Board, the following extensions:—Alackenzis County eight miles; Levels two miles; Geraldine none ; Waimate eight; Waitaki seven; Ashburton twenty. Air LiU said he was prepared l to accept 24 miles. He could then put six miles on to each of four roads, which were equally deserving. He moved in this direction. There was no seconder to either Air Alackenzie’s or Air Dill’s motions. Ashburton Allocated Twelve Miles., Air Garrick moved, and Air Bitchener seconded, that Ashburton he allocated 12 miles, the motion being carried. N Air Dill said he was very disappointed. He would fight the matter with the Board, and there would be no peace on earth, or anywhere else. (Daughter). Air Mackenzie: “I hope there will he goodwill.” The chairman said they would prob-

' ably be asked to say which of the extensions should take preference. Air Talbot suggested that the Levels application should be placed first, because the two miles asked for were an anomaly at present. They were the missing link on a highway which went right through the country. Air Alackenzie moved, and Air Smith seconded, that this stretch bo recommended to the Board for approval, the motion being carried. On the motion of Air Bitchener, seconded by All’ Alunro, the Council decided not to show further preference to the claims made.