STATE HIGHWAYS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 16

STATE HIGHWAYS

—— — More Than 4000 Miles To Be Taken Over GOVERNMENT PLAN OUTLINED MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS Of DOMINION CF rcr.i Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. June 12. Nearly 2000 miles of main highways In the South Island and 2300 miles in the North Island will soon become Stale highways under the Government's plan for the nationalisation of all principal arterial road routes in the country. The Government intends to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion, and to be rcspcnsible. through the Main Highways Board, for their construction and maintenance. These proposals were explained in detail to-day by the Minister for Public Works tthe Hon. R. Semple). He made it clear that not ail main highways listed as such are to be taken over, but only those highways which are looked on as principal lines of read communication. These in future will bo classified as Stale highways. "in some quarters." Mr Semple said, *ht has been accepted that the intention is to place all main highways under the direct control of the Main Highways Board, thereby relieving local authorities of any obligation to finance any part of the cost of the highways system. This is not correct, as the proposals cover only the principal arterial or trunk roads which a.-e already known as main highways. Experience has shown that important reconstruction or improvement of arterial highways have had to be deferred. in some cases for many years, principally because of the reluctance of a particular local authority to finance its quota.

Value of .Arterial Highways Tne value of arterial highways from hj transport viewpoint and to the public welfare can be measured only by the ability of these routes to cater at all umes for ail needs. The backbone or tne Dominion’s road transport is undoubtedly its trunk highway system, and the country’s interests would be better served by the State accepting responsibility, for the necessary improvement and proper upkeep of its artenal roads than by the multiplicity of control which now exists. The intention of the proposed legislation is. first, to ensure that principal lines, of road, communication will be admin.stered directly by a central authority having Dominion-wide jurisdiction, and for this purpose the Main Highways Board will be entrusted with the control of State highways. Second, ’be- proposed legislation will give tiiijnciai relief to local authorities by the extent to which they would ordinarily contribute to arterial highways. ' These savings to local bodies v.n! bo in the nature of increased financial aid to the reading authorities affected, and will enable them to apply their funds to ordinary country Highways and rural roads, wfith con- ; sqnent advantage to outlying disf :ct .

■Tnv value of the present main highway system, embracing as it does ■ co-operation of local authorities and the State both in administration and finance. is fully appreciated: but ]’ is capable of extension according v ihc needs of the day,” Mr Semple "Many local bodies contend that r rterial highways carry a considerable .-■mount of foreign traffic, and the proposed legislation will definitely r bee on the State the full financial burdeif of maintaining about 4000 miles of rpderial roads which, accordin'* to the recent traffic census, carry nearly 80 per cent, of the Dominion’s total highwav traffic. It is not proposed to transfer to the State the responsibility u-.r antecedent liabilities, and the idea b that from the date on which an u -ial iti»lv.v:iv is classified as a State highway the full cost of construction nod maintenance will be met from the hiehwavs funds. Where the work has already* been completed, no allowance wdl be made to the local authority concerned for its share of the expenditure; but where a work is still in hand, rl the time of classification an appointment will be made under which the local body will pay its cpntnfruticn onlv up to the <late on which the State highway is taken over.’ Complaints From Counties Mr Semple said there would doubtless be complaints from some counties which had financed improvements to arterial highways. They might feel

that they were in a worse position than other counties which had delayed their action, and which, under the new proposals, would have their arterial highways completed and surfaced free of cost. However, the same position had arisen previously when the main highways were first gazetted, and also with each increase in highways subsidy rates. It had to be remembered that the local authorities which improved their highways had received the enjoyment of those improvements, end no doubt had found them an economical investment. "The legislature has not so far given authority for retrospective assistance from the highways funds,” the Minister continued, “and it is not proposed to do so now. It might be explained that where a local authority is making deferred payments in respect of work completed before a State highway is taken over, such payments will continue until the debt is liquidated. Any local authority dissatisfied with the decision of the Main Highways Board will have a right of appeal to the Minister. Previously, power to apportion the'cost of highways works Iras been vested solely in the Main Highways Board. In accordance with the Government’s policy that the people’s representatives should be responsible for public expenditure, the activities cf the board in the construction, reconstruction, or impxovement cf main highways are to be subject to Ministerial consent before a start is made. This does not mean approval of every detailed work, but rather that a genera! programme to be undertaken from time to time should be carried out with the knowledge and consent of the Minister. Appeal to Local Bodies "Until legislation is passed and the Slate highways system becomes an accomplished fact, local authorities now in charge of highways tentatively nominated will retain control, and the question of maintenance will be a matter for the individual authorities affected. It is to be hoped that those local bodies will not neglect the highways, in anticipation of the future maintenance being home by the Slate. I appeal to those local bodies concerned to continue adequate maintenance of probable State highways, and I am confident that the co-operation manifested in the past will continue until the lull scheme is brought into operation.’’ The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected lo form the State highways system was announced by the Minister as follows, the figures showing that approximately 2300 miles of road are in the North Island and 1800 in the South Island. North Island Kailaia to Whangarei, via Ohaeawai and Dargaville, 104 miles. Whangarei to Dargaville. 39 miles, Whangarei to Maungaturoto. via Waipu, 41 miles. Dargaville to Maungaturoto, 42 miles. Auckland to HelenSville. 38 miles. Auckland to Maungaturoto, 75 miles. Auckland to Wellington, via New Plymouth, 469 miles. Pokeno to Whakatane, via Ngalea and Tauranga, 165 miles. Hamilton to Paeroa, 47 miles. Hamilton to Whakatane, via Rotorua, 126 miles. Gisborne to Whakatane, via Waioeka. 135 miles. Rotorua lo Napier, via Taupo, 150 miles. Napier to Gisborne, 146 miles. Gisborne to Ruatoria, 82 miles. New Plymouth ’ to Hawera, via Opunake, 67 miles. Te Kuili to Bulls, via Taumarunui, 204 miles. Wanganui to Horopito, via Parapava, 67 miles. Napier to Wellington, vis Wairarapa. 213 miles. National Park to Taupo, 67 miles. Levin to Palmerston North, via Makerua, 30 miles. Sanson to Palmerston North, Jo miles. Palmerston North to Woodville, 17 miles. South Island Picton to Bluff, via Rangitata. 613 miles. , Blenheim to Nelson, 77 miles. Nelson to Westport. 142 miles. Richmond to Ccllingwcod. 73 miles. Inangahua Junction to Wchcka, 213 miles. Christchurch lo Kumara Station, 143 miles, Timaru ( to Cromwell, via Tarras, 235 miles. Lumkden to Queenstown. 63 miles. Clarksville to Queenstown, 146 miles. Gore to Lumsden, 40 miles. Invercargill to Lumsden, 56 miles.