MAIN HIGHWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 33, 8 August 1923, Page 5

MAIN HIGHWAYS

COUNTIES AND THE ACT;

MINISTER'S FRANK PLEA

CO-OPERATION FOR BETTEH

WORKING.

The main feature of the opening proceedings of the twelfth conference of the New Zealand Counties was the frank plea of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) for more effective co-operation between the local authorities and the Department in carrying out constructive works, particularly roads, this witli special reference to the Main Highways Act, and its atlministration. The Act itself was mildly criticised by the president of the association (Mr. A. E. Jull) with uo suggestion, however, that the counties would not give loyal cooperation. Tha Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. K. F. Bollard) urged the advantages of merging counties into largec and more emc j ellt groupEj and out ii ned proposed legislation to facilitate the process. The conference was the largest numerically on record. ■ In his opening address, the" president traced the history of the highway legislation from the original proposals of the Minister of Public Works in 1921 brought before the last conference, and strongly opposed by that body. The proposals briefly were, that main arter-* lai roads were to be constituted practically running from the north to south of the two islands, and were to be taken over by the State and administered by a board of State officers. All taxation-oi motor vehicles was to be handed over to the board for expenditure on these roads and no contribution was to be made by the local bodies through whose districts such roads would pass. It was estimated that about 2000 miles of main arterial roads would be taken over. TIl vrCOriference was cluite opposed to the Minister's proposals, and submitted a counter proposal for increasing the subsidy payable to counties, the control of the roads by the local bodies to be retained, but the expenditure of the increased subsidy to be entirely upOD such roads, as carried the main traffic of the country, to be aproved by a board or boards consisting of representatives of the State, and of the local authorities, and to be maintained to a standard fixed by such boards.

It is history now," said the president, "that owing to the opposition of the Counties' Association the Highways Bill m 1921 was not proceeded with.' A duty on motor tires was, however, im--posed, the revenue from which to-be used for main highways, such duties came into force in January, 1922. In May, 1922, a conference of local authorities, and the various motor interests was convened by the Minister of Public Works, to further consider the question of main highways, which resulted in clearing the air to some extent, and late in the session of last year the Minister introduced the Highways Bill. It i s to be regretted that the usual practice of rushing important Bills like this forward at the end of the session and denying to those vitally concerned proper facilities for consideration, was again the method pursued, and although a meeting of the executive "was- held, and suggested amendments were actually dialed by the association's'solicitor, practically no consideration was given to them, and the Bill was pushed through. "The executive felt that it was better to accept the situation than to have organised any opposition to the Bill in the House as the Counties Association would have been accused of obstruction. It was further recognised that as the practical activities of the Act did not commence until 4th April, 1923, and further provision for finance was necessary, opportunity would, the Minister added, be afforded in the 1923 session to make suggestions where amendment€ were needed." QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION. : The Act as passed, continued Mr. Juli; . provided for a board of six members, three being State officers; one of whom to be chairman, two appointed on the recommendation of the Counties Assoeia-. tion Executive, and one as representing owners of motor vehicles, which board has been set up. Some considerable delay was caused in setting up the board owing to the. difference, of opinion-be-.• tween the Minister, and your, executive as to the procedure to be followed. The Minister insisted upon four names being submitted to him so that he might exercise his statutory discretion, while the executive held -that the recommendation of two persons only was called for, and | as such it was their privilege to recommend and the. Minister to approve or disapprove. After several meetings of the executive and thn interchange of correspondence, a personal exchange oE views; happily ended in the executive's recommendations being, accepted. " -'-. Some degree of uncertainty existed in regard to- the Act, which Mr. Jull explained. "Firs;," he said, "the Act does not specifically give the Highways Board the power to determine what roads are to be main highways, the power of declaring main, highways vests in the Governor-General, and there is a vagueness in respect to the board's functions iv making its recommendations. The District Council pass their recommendations on to the Highways Board as to what roads should "be made high highways, it .seems to be. implied that the Highways. Board's recommendations go forward to the GovernorGeneral. In Victoria the board has the necessary statutory authority to declare main highways. Whatever vagueness exists will no doubt be clarified in practice. It seems clear, however, that when main highways are gazetted the Highways Board has full control over such roads as all the powers of local authorities in respect to such roads'.are transferred to and vested in the board. This control, no doubt, covers the-mak-ing of bylaws and the enforcing of same, and although all or any of the powers conferred on the board may be delegated to the local authority of the district this is an aspect which the conference might desire to discuss, as heavy traffic bylaws and licenses will be an important question in relation to road control. HIGHWAY DISTRICTS. "From the local authorities' point of view the provision for the grouping of the counties into Highway Districts and the creation of district highway councils is of the greatest importance, and is an earnest of the, desire to grant reasonable measure of control to the local authorities concerned. . I look upon these provisions a3 the king-pin in the machinery of administration and upon the manner in which the county councils, through their representatives, combine with the board will depend the smoothness of running and generally the success or otherwise of the Act.

"The first business is the fixing the groups of counties to comprise thu highway districts. The various districts are considering the suggested areas; it may be pointed out that the boundaries of the highway districts may be altered if it is found desirable. The gazetting of the districts will enable the various

..CO.maties -to appoint their representatives and hold meetings to consider, their various • recommendations.

"■THe "provision that the' District' Council may. appoint: an executive body of not more' thiyi three of its members may need-to be varied, as some of the highway districts comprise ten or a dozen, and,'up to seventeen counties. The poisj .;of the representation on. the district;:Jcouncil of one< for each county JnayalßO require consideration, in view of the; great disparity in the size and valuations of the various counties." Z~ LOANS AND WORKS. '.''ln regard to the'raising of loans for road construction, proceeded the speaker, provision was made for the Highways Board's portion of capital. The executive, however, felt that it would be aii advantage if loans required for providing the various counties contributions to capital cost were raised by the Government which it was thought would cheapen and simplify the financing for all -permanent work. It was possible that .some difficulty might arise in determining what works were reconstructive works apd what were maintenance works. It -was desirable that some clear line should, be followed particularly as the basis"..?;!; the Highway Board's contribution; was fixed at one half for constructiveVworks to reconstruction works and oiß/'iKird for maintenance. Provision was made in the Act whereby the Highways' Board might in respect to roads decjarecj to be Government roads contributed the whole cost of construction .andjjnaintenance. The point had already been praised as to whether power was not.required for the Highways Board to grat|t»au- additional contribution greater than- ;,oire-half or one-third in respect to'certain parts of main highways that might be; Government roads but were nonessential; 'for the district concerned. It appeared'-that, while provision had been made "to\ enable the Highways Boards to grant a'Contribution to a borough' in re-spect-to-the maintenance of a main highiway!" traversing a borough, there wa6 no provision- for contributions towards such cost-in respect to town districts which were separate from counties. • It was desirable that the question should be considered as to what mandatory powers were held by the Highways Board enabling it" to carry out work contrary to the recommendations of the district councils. : v witK. the corresponding power to collect from the counties the half cost of construction or two-thirds cost of such maintenance that might be involved. On the other hand, what powers were held or should be held by the board'to give effect to the approved recommendations of the Highways Council in the case where individual county councils objected to such recommendations being carried out? Should there be the right of appeal by such 'objecting county councils and to whom should they appeal? It would be desirable for the conference to consider whether in all cases where roads were ■ made main highways that they should first be constituted main roads by the counties so as to avoid any queseiori.of riding liability. SUCCESS OR FAILURE. j "I view the creation' of the District Highway >Councils ,as the most important .'."feature'of the administrative part of the Act, and feel that the success of the - Act Hepends largely upon these councils,".said Mr. Jull. The~recommendations. of such important groups should recede' careful consideration if they (as I hare no doubt they v/ill) approach their'-'duties with an honest desire to work harmoniously with the board, and also with a recognition of their own responsibilities. There will, I ym sure, be a general desire in proportion to the willingness, thai.district councils evince to- carry, out the.duties;'of administrators uf the Act to tlirow_ more and more of the activities''of "the Act' on the local authorities, leaving the Highways Board to be more and more an advisory body. On the other hand a hanging back and reluctance to shoulder the administration bv>_ the councils may bring about the very centralisation which the association lias always*'opposed. I frankly confess to ;a hope and expectation that the district councils from-the closer association of the various' county councils which they will^ bring about will be the means of recommending the amalgama- i tiop of many of our present counties."