ARTERIAL ROADS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 247, 13 July 1921, Page 4

ARTERIAL ROADS

THE COMING LEGISLATION PROBLEMS TO BE FACED BY PARLIAMENT A Bil] dealing with arterial roads is one of the mailers to ho considered by Parliament next session. Tho Bill has been drolted, hut it has not yet taken final form. The Minister of Public Works has indicated that _it will be circulated among local bodies, in time for them to consider its provisions before Parliament is asked to give legislative effect to the scheme.

It is anticipated that the Bill will provide for the creation of controllingauthorities vested with power to deal with arterial roads over wide districts. The controlling authority will lay down the lines of operation, and will provide specifications for the roadway’s to lie constructed, but the actual work may bo left to local bodies in cases where adequate facilities are available. Many of tho local bodies are served by competent engineers, nnd are in possession of tho plant that would be required for the construction.' of first-class roads, and the Minister of Public Works has indicated that he does not think it advisable to duplicate facilities of this kind.

Tho crux of the question is not control, but finance. The arranging of finance will be the task of the controlling authority. Loan money will bo usel for new construction, nnd the funds required for maintenance and for the payment of interest and sinking, fund will probably be provided by levies on tho local bodies, supplemented by’ Government grants. Some special taxation, including a tyre tax, may be earmarked for the purpose of these grants.