MOTORISTS AND HIGHWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 156, 4 July 1931, Page 9

MOTORISTS AND HIGHWAYS.

DERATING OF FARM LANDS. POLICY OF A.A.A. OUTLINED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. At a meeting "of the Chamber of Commerce last evening a letter was received from the A.A.A. giving an outline of the association's policy in regard to derating of farms in relation to highways upkeep. Mr. Champtaloup, touring- manager, said that in touring the country he found that the A.A.A. had in many instances been placed in a false position. The association had no objection to derating provided that any resultant deficiency in the country fund would be met by the Consolidated Fund. The association had repeatedly and strenuously opposed placing an increased burden on the shoulders of. ratepayers by diverting the Highways Board fund for roading purposes from the general purposes of the Government. Had the original conception upon which the Highways Board funds were planned been followed in the past few years, there would not have been any further raising of the question of derating. Referring to the north, Mr. Champtaloup said that he thought no part of New Zealand had been more generously treated by the Main Highways Board than portions of North Auckland. It was realised that the north needed assistance to bring it into line with other sections of the Dominion. He believed that North Auckland had a wonderful future, and because. of this the A.A.A. had opposed a suggestion put forward by the Commissioner of Transport, that only a very inferior class of highway should be constructed between Whangarei and Auckland.