NATIONALISATION OF HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 12

NATIONALISATION OF HIGHWAYS

4000 Miles to be Taken Over by the State

FULL CONTROL BY MAIN HIGHWAYS

BOARD

Financial Relief to Local Authorities

The proposals of the Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion and to be responsible through the Main Highways Board for their construction ami maintenance were explained in.detail yesterday by the Mmistci of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple. Rot all the roads at present classed as main highways are to be taken over, but only those which are regarded as the principal lines of road communication. These in future will be classified as State highways.

“In some Quarters,” Mr. Semple said, “it 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 fipance 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 are already known as main highways. “Past experience has shown that important reconstruction or improvements on 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. The value of arterial highways from a transport viewpoint and to the public welfare can only be measured by the ability of these routes to cater at all times for all needs. The backbone of the 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 arterial roads than by the multiplicity of control which now exists. Relief to Local Authorities. “The intention of proposed legislation is first to ensure that the principal lines of road communication will be administered 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. Secondly, the proposed legislation will give financial relief to local authorities by the extent to which they would ordinarily contribute to the arterial highways. These savings to local bodies will be in the nature of increased financial aid to-the roading authorities affected and will enable them to apply their funds to ordinary county highways and rural roads, with consequent advantage to the outlying districts. “The value of the present main highways system, embracing as it does the co-operation of local authorities and the State, both in administration and finance, is fully appreciated, but it is capable of extension according to the needs of the day.

“Many local bodies contend that Hie arterial highways carry a considerable amount of foreign traffic, and the proposed legislation will definitely place on the State the full financial burden of maintaining approximately 4000 miles of arterial roads which, according to a recent traffic census, carry nearly 80 per cent, of the Dominion’s total highway traffic.

“It is not proposed to transfer to the State the responsibility for antecedent liabilities, and the idea is that from the date on which an arterial highway is classified as a State highway the full cost of construction and maintenance will be met from highways funds. Where a work has already been completed no allowance will be made to the local authority concerned for its share of expenditure, but where a work is still In hand at the time of classification an apportionment will be made under which the local body will pay its contribution only up to the date on which the State highway is taken over.” Some Complaints Exiiected. Mr. Semple said there.would doubtless be complaints from some counties which had financed improvements to a rterial highways. They might feel that they were in a worse position than oilier 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 main highways were first gazetted, and also with eaelt increase in highways subsidy rates. It had to be remembered that local authorities which improved their highways had received tlie enjoyment of those improvements, and no doubt had found them an economical investment.

“The legislature has not so far given authority for retrospective assistance from 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 prior to a State highway being taken over, such payments will continue until the debt is liquidated. Any local authority dissatisfied with a decision of the Main Highways Board will have the right of appeal to the Minister. Previously the power to apportion the cost of highways works has been vested solely in the Main Highways Board. “In accordance with the Govern-

ment’s policy that the people's representatives should be responsible for public expenditure, the a-Jtivities of the board in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of 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 the general programme to he undertaken from time to time should be carried out with the knowledge and consent of the Minister. “Until legislation is passed and the State highways system becomes an accomplished fact, local authorities now in charge of the 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 these local bodies will not neglect the highways in anticipation of future maintenance being borne by the State. I appeal to those local bodies concerned to continue the adequate maintenance of probable State highways, and I am confident that the co-operation manifested in the past will continue until the full scheme is brought into operation.” The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected to 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 Miles Kaitaia to Whangahei, via Ohaenwai anti Dargaville 104 Whangarei to Dargaville 39 Whangarei to Maungaturoto, via Waipu 41 Dargaville to Maungaturoto .... 42 Auckland to Helensville 38 Auckland to Maungaturoto 75 Auckland to Wellington, via New Plymouth 469 Pokeno to Whakatane, via Ngatea and Tauranga 165 Hamilton to Paeroa 47 Hamilton to Whakatane, via Rotorua 126 Gisborne to Whakatane, via Waioeka 135 Rotorua to Napier, via Taupo .. 150 Napier to Gisborne 146 Gisborne to Ruatoria 82 New Plymouth to Hawera, via Opunake 117 Te Kuiti to Bulls, via Taumarunui 204 Wanganui to Horopito, via Parapara 67 Napier to Wellington, via Wairarapa 213 National Park to Taupo 67 Levin to Palmerston North, via Makerua 30 Sanson to Palmerston North .... 15 Palmerston North to Woodville . 17 Pieton to Bluff, via Rangitata .. 613 Blenheim to Nelson 77 Nelson to Westport 142 Richmond to Collingwood 7S Inangahua Junction to Weheka . 213 Christchurch to Kumara Station . 143 Timaru to Cromwell, via Tarras . 235 Lumsden to Queenstown 63 Clarksville to Queenstown 146 Gore to Lumsden 40 Invercargill to Lumsden 56