HELENSVILLE HIGHWAY

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 12

HELENSVILLE HIGHWAY

THE COUNTY'S SHARE. ACTION BY HIGHWAYS BOAItD STRAIGHT TALK TO COUNCIL. ' A special meeting of the W&itemat* County Council was held yesterday to consider the question of repair of fV, Helenaville main highway, »i»4 q, tended by Messrs. J. McEnnis (chainm* of the No. 1 Highways District Cowd), and M. R. Wynyard (Main Highways Board). J

The county engineer (Mr. Andrew Murray) said that a special visit of inspection had been maae to the Headerson to Reweti section of the road by Mr. Tyndall, engineer to the Main High, ways Board, Wellipgton, and as Tiesuit he desired definite information from the council as to what they pro. posed to do toward putting this highway in reasonably good order, and when.

The estimated cost of the work required to bring these sections of the main highway up to standard was in accordance with the following table, the Main Highways Board contribution being 30/ for £1:—

Main Total Highways County Cost. Board. Share. Waipareira £750 £450 . £300 " Waitakere 2050 1230 820 Kumeu 4320 2502 1728 £7120 £4272 £ 2840 Considerable discussion ensued as to ways and means, and a proposal was mooted to raise the rates in these ridings to cover the cost. Mr. Kerr-Taylor strongly objected to this being done. He pointed out that the enormous traffic through poor country to tourist resorts was of no to the struggling landholders, who could not bear any additional burdens of rates.

Mr. F. Grigg thought that the subsidy offered by the Main Highways Board was too low.

Mr. M. H. Wynvard (Main Highways Board) said that prior to the imposition , of the petrol tax the subsidy was 10/ for £1, but it was now 30/ for £1. Owing to the increased cost of maintenance v this cost the Main Highways Board £200,000 more than they were collecting, but the petrol tax now enabled the position to be met. Twenty-five per cent was now also set aside for maintenance of secondary highways. A higher sabsidy was paid on certain roads by reason of the low value of land, and inability of ratepayers to meet any further liability. However, the standard for maintenance subsidy in New Zealand was 30/ for £1.

Mr. McEnnis (chairman of No. I Main Highways Council) said that during the past year the expenditure on sections of these roads had been as follows, per mile: —

Expenditure County Per Council Mile. Contribntloi. Waipareira Riding £123 £53 YVaitakere Hiding 93 . 40 Kumeu Riding 66 SO Mairetahi Riding 133 62

Relatively, Kumeu riding was in tha worst position. He expressed the opinion that mainteuance out of riding rates was an absurd proposition. In the Northern counties they levied a main highways rate; and real progress was made in maintenance. Little work had been done to the Kumeu riding-section for twelve months. He explained the fact that there would be no recommendation for an increased subsidy till lis was convinced that the council had done its best, and then if funds were .not adequate he would recommend accordingly. The whole trouble was that the council was trying to do everything out of riding revenue, whereas they should treat the main highways as county roads. If the council would not make an effort they could not get any more assistance from the No. 1 Highways District Council. He concluded by stating: "Until you put your roads in order you have no case at all."

Mr. Wynvard said that the Main Highways Board were prepared to gazette 3000 miles of roads in Zealand as main highways, but had application covering 4500 miles. Thus many were held in abeyance till their importance was decided.

Eventually the council decided to instruct the engineer to do what he could out of revenue accounts, and try and obviate the necessity of increasing the rating levy.