MAIN HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 140, 9 March 1929, Page 10

MAIN HIGHWAYS

SOUTH ISLAND DISSATISFIED SEPARATE BOARD WANTED ffy * unanimous vote the conference of North and South Island ' Motor Unions yesterday passed a remit urging that legislation be introduced making provision for separate highway board for the two ' Islands. - In moving the remit, Mr. A. E. Ansell (Canterbury) said that they were very dissatisfied with their reading problems in the south. When the Highways Act was passed' the then Government promised that the question of setting up a separate board would be considered after the present board had been given a' trial. “It’s operation has not been satisfactory so far as we are concerned,” said Mr. Ansell. “The conditions fij each island are very much different. The counties in the south are not prepared th go in for extensive borrowing as they are in the north. During the existence of the board £1,800,000 more has been drawn by the North Island from the construction fund than by the South- That, of. course, has been brought about owing to the fact that tile North Island was prepared to come forward with its quota. We in the south are, not prepared to borrow beyond. the economic limit of the land. Whether thaf attitude is right or wrong remains to be seen. All we ask for Is that we be allowed to spend our. money in the way we think best. The matter of setting up two boards does not present any great difliculty, as the, representatives of the Govern-would-be the same. No great expenditure would ; be incurred.” Mr. E. Manton (Wellington): It is nqt the fault of the Main Highways Board if the South Island are not prepared. to do their Wit. ; “..Mr.' Ansell: Oh, no. But the position is we,are not prepared to borrow to the same exent as the North Island. Mr. Manton: Are you going to get any further ahead if you have a board of your own? -■ Mr- Ansell: Yes. Mr. Manton: The petrol tax was provided for a specific purpose. If you in the south think you are going to get hold-of that money to seal your roads as'you like ’.then you are making a big mistake. - You are not going to get away with it. If the south is not prepared to raise the necessary loans for road work.. the same as we had to do in the hdrth, it is. npt. going. to .be allowed to take the petrol money! You have no hope in the •vide world. Mr. Ansell: Why not? The counties are'not prepared to go in for-huge loans. • A delegate.: Well, how are they going to put- their roads in order? ...Mr. Ansell:-.The board has power to take, over the whole of the contributions and put the roads in order. Mr. Manton: Oh, has it? A delegate: Yes. Once that sort of thing is started where is it going to end?' : Mr. Ansell: We are paying the petrol tax just the same as you ore. Mr H. O. Jones (Auckland) said that -the board as constituted at present was no more a North Island board than It was, a South Island board. i Mr. Ansell: We don’t want an alteration in- the constitution of the board. We want to safeguard our fund*. After further discussion it was agreed ■unanimously to. support the remit.