The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1936. A National Highways Plan

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21708, 15 February 1936, Page 14

The Press SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1936. A National Highways Plan

Speaking to a deputation from the Ashburton County Council, the Minister for Public Works expressed the opinion that county councils Should be entirely relieved of financial responsibility for roads which could be “classified as " chief arterial highways of national value.” The Main Highways Board should have the sole responsibility for these; the local bodies, with the Public Works Department, should concentrate on the Secondary highways. There is something taking about this theory, which has from time to time been suggested in the same or a'similar form by .others; but it begins to expose difficulties and dangers under test. In the first place, the distinction between these first-class, arterial roads of “ national value ” and other ones is not so real or so clear as to: make classification easy and obvious. In the second, the reason why Main Highways Board control should be confined to such roads, when classified, and secondary highways be the responsibility of the local bodies and the Public Works Department, is unpossible to follow. In such a division the essential fact that the country’s roads form a system is dangerously likely to be overlooked. Third, if control were so divided, finance would, apparently, be drawn from two entirely separate pools: (a) the Highways Board’s funds, and (b) local rates supplemented by public works special appropriations. If not, the alternative seems to be some diversion of Main Highways Board revenue to be spent on roads outside its control and responsibility. Thi objections, either way, are plain and formidable; but it is worth while to emphasise one of them, that the prospect, in any of its varieties, threatens the weakening of the board’s influence. Finally, it is necessary to say that any such scheme of partial derating and of the redistribution of authority and financial responsibility must be premature, while the country still waits for two- major investigations, into local government and into natiorfal transport co-ordination. If Mr Semple will do something to promote both and to generate more light than is at present available, that will be more useful and progressive than his trying to improvise reforms as he goes along.