MAIN HIGHWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 19 March 1924, Page 6

MAIN HIGHWAYS

DECLARATION OF ROADS DE-

CIDED ON.

The Main Highways Board announced last night, at the conclusion of its Wellington sittings, that it has decided on the roads in the whole Dominion which shall be declared main highways. "Prior to such declaration, however," said the board's official statement, " it was resolved to communicate, through the district highways councils, with the different county councils, asking that they continue the maintenance o£ these roads on behalf of the board, pending definite arrangements between the board and ■the county councils for the delegation o.t the powers "of the''board' in'respect of such roads.

'• This course is necessary to secure the continuance of . the maintenance ol the -roads, for, under the operation of the declaration of a road as' a main highway, it (the maintenance) passes out of the hands of the county council mta those of the board. " The board's general policy is to delegate its powers on a ■ main highway to the local body, subject to the standard of maintenance and works being approved by the Main Highways Board, but there are statutory difficulties against that being' dons at the present moment. V-Tho local bodies have been asked for immediate replies, to enable the declaration of the roads as main highways to be made as early as possible."

Mr. G. C. Godfrey, a member of the ■Main Highways Board, has resigned, and his resignation has been accepted by the board. When Mr. Godfrey was appointed to the board he was Assist-ant-TJnder Secretary of Public Works and, as such, was in close touch with' the administration of main roads He has since, however, been appointed Secretary of Marine.

The Minister stated last night that he had nominated a successor, but had not yet been advised whether the gentleman would accept the position