MAIN ROADS BILL

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 194, 17 August 1922, Page 5

MAIN ROADS BILL

RESULTS OF THE CONFERENCEDIGESTED BY MINISTER. <■: HIS NEW PROPOSALS. i?" An interesting memorandum has just been issued by tlie Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public \Vork3, to the delegates that attended the recent conference on highways. lie points out that though the conference was agreed that good roads were essential and that existing local authorities could not undertake the work, no definite conclusions wore come to. The differences arose on the one hand as between the Government view and that of the local body representatives as to control, classification and allocation, and on the other hand the motorists as to the provision of a considerable portion of the necessary additional funds by way of motor taxation. The Minister says he is still convinced that his bill of last session •was an effective method of dealing with what is admittedly a difficult problem. Outlining the main features of the provisions he proposed to embody in a bill- to be introduced during the ensuing session of Parliament, the Minister says he is against the suggestion of a board of control for each island, and is strongly of opinion that one small board will best serve requirements and he will propose that the board consist of chairman to be appointed by the Government, one member representing the Public Works Department, one member representing local governing bodies to be appointed on the recommendation of the Counties Association Executive, and one member representing motor interests, the method of liis nomination to lie decided by the interests concerned. It may, he say?, be necessary to later set up a special organisation, but in the meantime the organisation of the Public Works Department and the local bodies will be used. SPENDING THE MOSEY. Tn order to give some consideration to enterprising counties who have spent money in first class construction, the Minister proposes to have the road surface valued, and pay to the local bodies concerned one-third of the cost of interest and sinking fund on the sums spent in permanent improvement of any roads that come under the board's jurisdiction after classification. The Minister reckons that there will be between 2,000 and 2J500 miles of "primary" roade and 0,500 miles of '"secondary" roads. It would not be possible at present to extend to these secondary roads the scheme of paying for past work done. The Minister in his memorandum goe3 into details concerning the expenditure of the board's revenue, the most important part being that where he says that if progress were dependent on revenue it would be a very long period : before substantial improvement was J obtained, and it seemed necessary to I borrow definitely for road purposes. The estimated cost of bringing 2,000 miles of the primary roads up to first class standard was something over £3.000.000. The Minister realised that local bodies wanted some assistance while the intended permanent improveI ments were being carried out, and he \ proposed £00,0110 should be devoted to that purpose. In the course of some further explanatory paragraphs the Minister says: "It might appear as though the limit; of permanent improvement would be reached with the spending of a £3.000.000 loan on up-to-date road surfacing and permanent improvement-, but such is not the case. The number of motor vehicles is constantly increasing—so far, at a much greater rate th-.in the population. Therefore this factor, in common with the general increase of wealth throughout the Dominion, will result in an ever-increasing amount of money bein£ available from the sources indicated, so that 'by the time the first loan is raised and'expended the way will be clear for the raising of further loan moneys." CLASSIFICATION*. Last sessions bill proposed that certain main arterial roads should be dealt with, but the county delegates at the conference introduced the term "main traffic roadsv"' which would have meant the inclusion of perhaps several roads in each county. That would have meant "countyising" the allocation of expendi- - ture. and that would not have been any better than the present system. The amount of work the Board could do would be regulated by its funds, so it was essential that the relative importance of the roads should be determined. Therefore it was necessary- for classification. He would propose that in the meantime the Board divide roads into "■primary," '"secondary" sx.i the baiance —the last mentioned not concerning the Board, as it would not have to deal with them. The primary Toads would be of such exteat as it was clearly within the Board's ability to finance. The secondary roads would be such additional main traffic roads as the Board could be reasonably expected to deal with, either immediately or as time went on, and ways and means increased. FINANCE. The Minister proposes, as he did in the main bill, to divide finance into classes — capital or loan moneys and moneys. The Government would time being and probably for many years to come make available an amount equivalent to the votes for individual roads, a proportion of the usual Consolidated Fund vote for road maintenance. . The taxation on motor lyres would, the ■ ■Customs Department considered, yield ' £150,0011 per annum. .Motor taxation— ' registration and license fees —was a vexed question, and probably repre«-niea tin- difference between success and failure of till' scheme. -Motorists at first wore inclined to take the view that the tyre tii\ was enough, but he understood subsequently that they were agreeable to further taxation, l.vi particularly wanted one taxinjj authority <»ily, and preferred that it, should be the (Jovcrnment and not local bodies. On the basis ot an annual license fee of £3 for a private ear and £10 for a lorry it was estimated that £1.30.1)00 would '»• available from this source. That would give the Board !an annual revenue of. Tyre tax. £150,----j 000: motor license fees- lor some other j source of revenue). £150.000: grunt from I Consolidated Fund. £3.").ft00 : grant from Public Works Fund. fiOO.000: total. £535.000. In addition, assuming that they raised a loan of £3.0(10.000. at the rate of £300.000 a year, they U'ullld have that amount, less the interest.