HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 7

HIGHWAYS BOARD.

CRITICISM AT ASHBURTON. Reference to the agitation which was being made for the formation of a Main Highways Board for the South Island, and another for the North Island, to take the place of the one Board which oontrols the whole of New Zealand, was made at the meeting of the Ashburton County Council yesteiday. The chairman (Mr H. Horsey) said they wexe all aware that a proposal was on foot for the formation of a separate Board for the south. Mr \V. T. Lill said when the highways scheme came into vogue they fought strenuously for two Boards, but Mr J. D. Bruce (Canterbury member of the Board) advised them to get up one Board for two or three years to give it a trial/ They had all read the article by Mr A. F. Wright in The Phess of Monday. January 24th. He thought that Mr Wright was sadly "at sea" in many of > his ideas. In the article it was suggested that the South Island should have a separate Board and that it should raise £2,000,000 for the improvement of the roads. The speaker was of the opinion that if the South Island required £2,000,000 then tho North Island would require £6,000,000 to put its roads on an equal footing with those in the south. He asked what Government would sanction such a loan. It impressed him as being on utter impossibility. Mr Wright thought tho proposed Board should be without Government control, but the sneaker was of the opinion that they might just as well ask the sun to stop shining as to endeavour to prevent control by the Government. The present Board was comprised mostly of Government representatives. He would not advocate a big loan. If they were going to get a new Act, he would like to see a clause included prohibiting motorists from travelling at a greater rate of speed than 40 miles an hour. At the present time they did not seem satisfied until they wore doing 50, 60, and up to 70 miles an hour. The men rate' of speed was ruining the roads. It seemed to him that the Automobile Association liked to see the motorists knocking out a car in about 18 months. No money raised in motor taxation in tho South Island should be transferred to the North Island. If the Government would give the Ashburton Council all the money collected in taxes from motorists in tho county, they would be far better off than under the control of the Highways Board. He moved: "That the Council is strongly of opinion that the time has arrived when the cost of maintenance of the principal highways should be borne fully by the fund raised from motor taxation, as the present-day requirements of motor traffic are higher than the requirements of the settlers, who should not be called upon to bear any of the cost of maintenance, as they also contribute as motorists. The Council is also of opinion that all money raised from motor taxation and licenses in the South Island be reserved solely for work in this Island." Mr Horsey seconded the motion. Mr J. Carr: One must realise that the present time is one for exercising economy. We all know that the farming community is over-burdened at the ; present time. I take it that the effect of tho resolution is to reduce cost All I we want is tho insertion of a clause setting out that all the money raised in the South Island is to be spent in this Island without going to the expense of setting up another Board. AH the money in the north is being devoted to the formation of new roads, while in the South Island the roads are already formed. It appears to me that the Government is not giving the South Island sufficient money for maintenance. , The chairman: The position at the present time is that we are not receiving our quota of revenue. / Mr R. Houston: Can we get our quota if we> apply for it? The chairman: We can get it if we are prepared to tax the people £ for £. We really want 80 per cent, instead of 60 ner cent, for maintenance on main ror.ds. The motion was carried. The chairman and Mr \v. T. LiU were authorised to attend a conference Of local bodies and to use their endeavours to have th 6 recommendations passed bv the Council brought into force and the Main Highways Act amended accordingly. . Jt was decided to thank Mr Wright for the article which he had contributed.