MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18242, 28 November 1924, Page 11

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

CAUSES OF DISSATISFACTION. DISCISSION BY MOTORISTS. The question of one Main Highways Board for each Island, which was a texed question raised by South Island motorists when tho Highways Bill was lirst. drafted, was again raised at the quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Lruou last night by 3£r J. L. Passmore, tho Otago Motor Club's delegate.

Mr Passmore said that in the opinion of his club tho existing Main Highways Act, was most unsatisfactory, and lie aid not think it could bo administered effectively until the present system of District Highways Councils had been abolished, and a Main Highways I'oard established in each Island. Ho advocated tho allocation ot expenditure on main roads in proportion to the_ through traffic they carried, and tao widening of tho scope of tho Act in orcier to allow the 30 per cent, grants for maintenanco and oO per cent, grants tor construction increased. Ho cited tho position of tho Yvaikouaiti County Council as a ji instance of the restrictions placed upon the Main Highways Board, that local body controlled a portion of the Main South road which ' ran through poor and hilly country. The maintenance costs were high, and the l°.w value of the land did not allow high rates to he struck. It. had bceu shown by a census that over SO per cent, of tho traffic was through, and county, traffic. Tho county had made application for au increased grant, m view of the special eircumstances, but the Board had replied that it. did not have the power to grant more than 30 per cent, for maintenance. He moved: "Tliat the Union urgo upon tho Government the necessity for the formation of two Main Highways Board's, one for each Island, with a definito allocation of tho tax pavable hv motorists."', Mr E. Malcolm (North Otago) seconded tho motion.

Mr F. AV. Johnston (Canterbury) said that he did not doubt that they would get no real satisfaction in the South Island until there were two Boards, but he was afraid that the time was premature to make application for the change. The president (Mr J. S. Hawkes) suggested that the southern bodies should make application for special consideration, in view of the Exhibition traffic. He agreed with Mr Johnston that tho time Mas not opportune to apply for two separate Boards. He knew that the Department and the Board were anxious for the present system to bo gifen a. fair trial. Mr Passmore said that' a good deal was to be done by speciallyrraispd funds, but the difficulty was maintenance. The county could not afford to maintain tho road in proper condition for the heavy through traffic. ' • • Mr AV. H. Nicholson (Canterbury) said that if they asked the Government, for larger grants they would receive the reply that-tho Government was not going to give them roads to compete against the railways. _ - Mr Hawkes: But we have got a right to have decent roads.

Mr Nicholson: I don't say that that is my opinion, but it is likely to be the Government's. He went on to say that the North Island bodies had been < too anxious to borrow money under the Highways Act, and the time would come when thfe South Island- would be in . a superior position because its local bodies had been slow to rush into fresh expenditure. They could afford to wait until the r.csult of the car census was known. He .was confident that the census would show that the South - Island had the greater number of cars, and would benefit accordingly when tho allocation of expenditure was made between tho two bodies on a car basis. _ Mr A. D. Dobson (Canterbury) said that the a'nxi&ty of local-bodies to lav tar-sealed roads was absurd. If t^ e J" only chose the right type of metal they would get as good a road surface- as they could desire for main aTtenal roads. , ijlr .Passmore spid that after bearing tho discussion, lie was . prepared to withdraw his motion. Mr Nicholson said that it should not be accepted that the motion was defeated. It should bo merely held over for the executive to take up wheii the time was opportune. That course was agreed to by the meeting. Mr'R. W. Lochhead (Canterbury) suggested that a'Commission should be set. no to allocate the amounts which should bo contributed to the fund by counties which were • contiguous to But not included in Ma.in Highway districts. Mr Nicliolson said that that point was beinc considered by the Government. He moved:—

"That the Government be urged to allocate the proportioii of assistance to be given to each county oa the amount of through traffic passing through that county." The mover said that each car was estimated to. be paying £-1 a year, m tyre tax, besides tne £2 a year registration tee, but owing to-tne counties not being in a position to carry out work on the roaas, the motorists were not receiving any benefit, from the revenue they contributed. It was estimated that Dunedin motorists were paying £30,G00 a year for no return, la reply to a question, the speaker said that his club wished to get in early before' Parliament. met again, so that the amendment might bo included in the new regulations. Mr Malcolm seconded the motion.

Tho discussion followed closely upon tho lines of that upon the first motion, and Mr Passmore agreed subsequently that he would hold it over for 'tho present, if members deemed it advisable.

Tho further consideration of the. motion was deferred. Mr Johnston said that, a motion should go forth from that meeting, representing the whole of the motorists of the South Island, strongly urging upon the Government the necessity for putting the main roads in the vicinity of Dunedin in good order, in view of the forthcoming International Exhibition.- The Government wss interested in the success of the Exhibition and it should recognise that thousands of people should travel to it by cars.

A motion on those lines was carried unanimously. .

It was agreed, on Mr Passmore's motion. t-o recommend that, with a view to. stabilising tho finances of the Government, through the tyre tax,, the tax should be fixed on the weight of ivies, rather than oil tvres.