MAIN HIGHWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 50, 28 August 1922, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS

|prqb|eh of better

"jTHE MINISTER'S PROPOSALS

p ■'*■■ ■■ -„ •, i !.-. REPLY BY C6UNTIESI

ASSOCIATTON

JFhe memorandum reaently issued by the Minister of Public Works regarding the. problem of dealirig with main highways was considered by the Executive Committee of tHe New Zealand' Counties' ■ Association last week, and a reply has t>ajn forwarded to the Minister embodying the committee's ' suggestions. • EFFORTS APPRE- %■ ■; ■ ■ CIATED. ..: ■. >" .; ■ |n his letter to tho Minister-, Mr. A.' E.^Jull, president of the New Zealand Counties' Association, states: "The Exei cujfeve Gommittee desire to record their appreciation of: your efforts toYapproxi:m|to the various interests involved in 'connection 'with, this 'important question. , . In* view of your'request for an early \ re'p^ly^ the, Executive Committee are for- ' 'wa'fding their considered conclusions. W|)en the proposed Bill, is drafted and circulated, however, the executive may fe^J it necessary to convene a conference '.'■. ioteonsider the detailed proposals. Tho Executive Committee are anxious to

asijist you in formulating proposals

• '(which will make a satisfactory arid, wel- .—.;. come advance, on present legislation.' The ■^ex'ecutiye have adopted/as far as possible, auggestions.embodied in your memoran- , | dito, and,have departed from the reso- ; logons p^the. last Counties' Conference nsgfar as "they can go in order to meet • your views..-,- -•■ ; '- ■" '■■'•.■,' \ JJThe'executive/.feel that the".suggeS-. ' ticji to "group the" counties I according' to th«r geographical position and com--1 'mfnity ,of h jnter'est:,offers the best solu"ttcjjji of the problem of dealing with road construction upon broad lines, with the least disturbance of control and- the ob- . vision of* a board of control being set ■ ' ujj£ Such groups of counties to have nn> area- and finance which, with the asStstnce from;the State as outlined, will ;nSble road construction of^an improved standard -under competent/ engineering, ■advice to-Jje,;.;proceeded with expeditioisly." •'"" '." Iho suggestions'made by the Executive C(^iinitt,e,e,,arp..,^s,.undpr.;rr- r .-, ,'.. .'.■.- , I MAIN'TRAFFIC ROAD. **It is;sugge«ted that main traffic roads • of&he groups of counties should be defined, and-'upon such roads should be expended, the moneys specially to.be pro■vicjed by. the State from the Highway -.. Fund.. •-■■'■ /" . .•■-' \;■ ;■ • '•<:ln defining what are be deemed main traffic roads it is suggested .that V. they should be considered from the fol--1 losing points of View:—(l) As to whe-

■• thgr they were main traffic roads carrying! extensive traffic, or likely to carry . ( exfensive traffic, to centres of pppula- "; ."■ titfti, or from one district to another. • ./<2)^As to whether they were subject to 'considerablo traffic from rural districts : ; toJUhe railway, systems 01• ports.. r / (3) As ■'. to*whetlier thej;.;;were developmental-in '.. v i /: chiiracter~tli'?it >is,'.: whether cdn-".;-,pitr?ictioa>.w.ottld,be likelyi to lead .to'iih- ■ erased Settlement or increased popula;';tioti. That the above classification should ; be'rcartied out by parsons nominated by •■■ ths Government. and representatives of I v thei grouped counties. ' T. ■ |ta»ioaed' 'of maintenance, '■••■.' 'I The standard or standards" of con- : etrijetion and maintenance of .the main i-:'.[traffic .roads in each grouped, counties area 'to bb' d*termined' .by the Public - - iWorks Department1 after consultation . with the engineer?-,6f|-the grouped'cburi- . ''i-li"I:'':'.' ?.'■,•■ ' '.■ '

" In order to a :expedito.the general- activity of main-traffic rp»d construction; throughout,.the Dqminten,' loan .moneys ■ehonld be made available to the grouped counties areas, and the t suggestion con- ; tamed in your memorandum that the '.counties should provide £1 to £2 provided by the State for interest and sinking funds is, in the,executive's opinion, an acceptable'one.' ' , ■•'■.,'.' "The cost; of maintenance, of the main traffic roads when constructed- to the standard required, it? is suggested, should be met in the "same proportions as the cost of construction, • ; . . DISTRIBUTION OF MOTOR ; TAXATION. ' . -

"The executive committee is awaire of • the strongly voiced views that the taxation derived.from motors should be ap-. portioned between the North Island and the South Island in some equitable manner r «and—-we- trust that you , will .give , earnest .consideration to the views which ( hay« been-expressed. ; ''In speaking of the grouping of counties, it is to :be understood that Buch grouping is only for <the purpose of* making bettei1 provision .for the coristhjetion and jnfiintenance.of main, traffic roads. . ;«,: .-.. ■ ' -"■■-■' i' -'■ ''/■'■\\- : ■"/The exeoutive committee hopes that j th!iej foregoing suggestion will indicate- to .yduj the deaiie-of the' Counties, Assctem-' tien to forwara your endeaVpiir to nd,,van'ce and improve road, construction in1 the; DominiQnJ-7, They yfee] that a- Bill', drafted on \the, lines indicated 'will be \vtelcpmed by, county councils, the, motor

interesta, and the general public of the Dominion." /■'. • I. ■ ;■ i'f.'il——»T .- *J.v*l?i—