MAIN HIGHWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 19020, 15 August 1925, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS

INCREASED GRANTS POSSIBLE DISCUSSION IN HOUSE TFrom Oue Parliamentary Eeporter.l WELLINGTON, August 14. The South Island viewpoint of main highways administration was strongly put in the House to-day when the maintenance of roads votes were adopted. The Prime Minister, who was m charge of these estimates, announced that an amendment to the Act would be introduced this session, giving the Highways Board more discretionary power in allocating grants to local bodies. The question was introduced by tho Hon. D. Buddo. who drew attention to the Unsatisfactory state of the Canterbury roads, aml ret erred to the demand that there should he a separate board for the South Island. Ho was not prepared to express an opinion on the point, but something would have to bo done, because the most urgent need was the provision of good roads. Mr M'Combs supported, urging that more latitude be given to the Highways Board for tho amount of money it had to find. Local bodies should not be allowed to borrow for maintenance purposes, Mr Masters, commenting on the healthy conditions of highway finances, said the tyre tax appeared to produce £150,000 more than the estimates. The Minister should consider tlio advisability of increasing subsidies for road maintenance from £1 in £3 to at least £ for £. He also wished the Minister seriously to consider placing the larger towns in the same position for subsidies as counties, as the cost of roads fell heavily on small boroughs in particular. The Prime Minister replied that renewals of bridges, as a matter of policy, were made from the Consolidated Fund, nob from capital account. An amendment to the Highways Act would bo submitted, giving tho board more discretionary power. Apparently m the North Island local bodies were prepared to find more money that those of the South Island. The roads were better, and Nature, it would seem, had been more kind in providing better metal. The proposed amendment would allow a larger contribution for maintenance, say up to £ for £. t lt would he a straiglit-out grant for maintenance where, in the wisdom of tho Highways Board, it was necessary. Mr blasters: That is the point. • The Prime Minister replied that it would be impracticable, in fact quite impossible, to grant £ for £ for the whole ot New Zealand. The wiser course was to gradually build up tho Highways Fund, and lie issued a caution against spending it at an excessive rate. They should be careful not to ruin the Highways Act by reaching out too far at tho outset. ■

blr Horn thought that a dividend should be struck, and an allocation made to the South Island local bodies of the moneys due to them so that they could bo spent in overtaking the two years’ arrears. Mr D. J. Sullivan referred to tho main road to New Brighton, which, he said, carried tremendous traffic, and should be maintained under the Government scheme.

Mr J. R. Holies ton said there was really no incentive now for county councils to improve their roads, for the better they wore made the more traffic they attracted. Mr Do Perelle asked whether the money for the basis for maintenance would be made available this year, and whether it would also be available to boroughs. The Minister of Lands (Mr M'Leod) said ho doubted tho fairness of maintaining 60ft roads. In regard to expenditure, ho said he thought tho South Island would get a more equitable share in the future, hut he pointed out how necessary it was to conserve tho fund, and guard against dissipating the money. _ Ho issued a warning that local bodies which were working on a comparatively low rate could not expect to benefit by the discretionary powers of the hoard. Opposition to the Highways Board was voiced by Mr Edie (Clutha). Ho had always opposed the board, and his opinion was more and more confirmed every day, as tlio farmers were being asked to pay heavy rates for roads which, in many cases, were providing means of competition with the railways.