MAY STEP IN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 8

MAY STEP IN.

HIGHWAYS BOARD.

IWHAKAPARA-RUSSELL ROAD. LETTER TO COUNTY COUNCIL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. A hint that unless the council was prepared to maintain the WhakaparaRussell main highway with the assistance offered the Highways Board might undertake the work and charge the council with its proportion was conveyed in a letter from the Main Highways Board which was received by the Whangftrei County Council to-day.

Following the refusal by the Main Highways Board to increase the subsidy to £5 for £1 for repair of flood damage and general maintenance on the section of road, the council wrote that if the decision was adhered to there would be little hope of the road heing in control.

"The responsibility of maintaining this road situated within the county is a county and not a riding matter, , ' the Highways Board replied. "The council has submitted no details to indicate that its request that its £5 for £1 subsidy is more justified than the board's approved rate of £3 for £1. The council refers to the upkeep of this road, which is almost entirely used by outside traffic." Does not the fact that the board provides 75 per cent of the maintenance cost go to show that outside traffic is already bearing' by far the greater part of the maintenance expenditure. If this argument is to be developed to any extent then there appear to be very few good reasons why the council should receive, from a national fund, 75 per cent of the cost of maintaining other highways in the district, which, it' will no doubt he admitted, do not carry a majority of outside traffic.

"If the council does not properly maintain the road with the assistance available from the board's funds, the board will not hesitate to consider revoking the powers of delegation which have been granted to the council and arrange for adequate maintenance to be undertaken and charge the council with one-fourth of the expenditure incurred." The council's policy in connection with the repair of flood damage, portion of the coat of which, it was claimed, should be borne by petrol taxation, had previously been discussed, and although councillors evinced some surprise at the contents of the letter no action was taken.