A HEAVY BURDEN

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 133, 3 December 1930, Page 13

A HEAVY BURDEN

UPKEEP OF HUTT ROAD

"NOT A MAIN HIGHWAY"

The Main Highways Board advised tho City and Suburban Highways Board to-day that it was unablo to pay a subsidy towards tho cost of maintaining the Hutt road between the city boundary at Ngahauranga and Koro Koro, as the road was not a main highway. It was stated further that, in view of the special payments which were being made by the Main Highways Board under tho Finance Act, 1927, there did not appear to be any justification for the declaration of the i road as a main highway. Some dissatisfaction at tho reply was voiced by members, and it was decided to approach tho Main Highways Board at an early date in an-effort to obtain relief. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), who presided, expressed the opinion that the road was a main highway, and said he could not sco the logic of the Main Highways Board's reply. The:<revenue which formerly came from.. the motorists using tho road was quite sufficient and was an ever-growing quantity, and now that the fees had been abolished the Main Highways Board maintained that it would not take any., responsibility in regard to maintenance. "It is one of the greatest main, highways in New Zealand," ho declared, ''and they should stand in to assist us." ' Mr. D. E. Hoggard said that there was some legislation which declared tho road a city road. . Mr. Troup: "That is only a matter of convenience." . Mr. Hoggard: "It is proving an expensive convenience." Mr. Troup suggested that tho City Solicitor might bo instructed to seek some way of having it declared a county road in order to receive a contribution from tho petrol tax. It was pointed out that the board's strong argument would be that it had counted upon the motorists' fees, and since they had been taken away by legislation the loss was embarrassing the board's finances, and it was'entitled to some allowance. Mr. Hoggard: "They might restore the Hutt road fees to us:" Mr. G. Mitchell: "Or the amount of the Hutt road fees." "If they restore tho fees to us we will willingly take over all the obligations," said Mr. Troup. He moved —and it was decided — I that a deputation wait upon tho Main Highways Board.