OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 19062, 3 October 1925, Page 11

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT The Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League held its meeting on Thursday evening. Present— Messrs S. B. Macdonald (chair), G. J. Errington, V. Jacobs, E. Anscombo, J. Inglis Wright, and E. Tamblyn. The chairmen of the Taieri County Council and the Maniototo County Council were also present. Apologies were received from Messrs W. Black (Mayor of Alexandra), L. Y. Potter (Mayor of Milton), and T. Scott (chairman of Bruce County Council). The Secretary reported that it had been arranged that an illustrated lecture on the Manapouri-Te Anau track should be delivered during October. The suggestion was adopted, the president and secretary to make the necessary arrangements. Correspondence regarding the presentation of a competition cup for the provincial courts was read from northern districts, and the secretary instructed to finalise the matter in connection with Southland. The Hon. the Prime Minister wrote regarding the taking over of the Miller’s Flat extension, announcing December 1 as a probable date. Telegrams and lotters_ in connection with the landing stages in Lakes Wanaka and Hawea were received, the president reporting that the supplementary estimates just published indicated that more satisfactory grants were being allocated. The Publicity Board announced its acceptance of the league’s gift of panoramic views of Dunedin for the Sydney and Melbourne offices, and the arrangements for their transport. The question of the grants for main highways brought up by correspondence from the Canterbury League was introduced, the following report being read by the secretary:— “ The discontent voiced by Canterbury in the administration of the Highways Act is echoed in Otago. Representatives of various local bodies, have approached the league asking its 00-operation in educating the people up to the facts of the case and how the roads in the south are being penalised as compared with those of the north. This is particularly noticeable in connection with the highways districts of Otago and Southland. The free grants to district councils, as stated in the Estimates, are North Island £182,137, South Island £89,112, and of this amount Otago and Southland only receive £18,781, practically made up of the £15,000 grant to No. 16 district for the Waitati road, and £2,356 to No. 17 districo for the Clarkville-Clydo road, so if Canterbury has reason to grumble, we more. Taken on a population basis, the North Island is receiving in free grants 4s per head to the South Island 3s 6i]d. But there is a further allocation of maintenance grants which is even more unequally distributed. The standard grant of £1 for £1 has been by all our local bodies declared to he too low. If our main arterial roads were brought up to standard for modern traffic such a grant would be fair and reasonable, or if the roads had been originally built for such traffic the amount offered could not he cavilled at. But our southern roads, good of their kind, cannot stand up to fast, heavy traffic, and it is not maintenance that is required, but reconstruction, and towards this reconstruction the Consolidated Fund, the Highways Fund, and the local*bodies should contribute equal shares. Once that work is completed the maintenance will be light and within the means of local authorities, aided by highway boards’ grants. But to ask country ratepayers to carry the burden of reconstruction of the roads to meet modem and foreign traffic is decided' inequitable Hence the demand for a different proportion in the amount granted, and this is how it"is answered in the Estimates just passed: North Islam! highways boards receive 05 for £1 £2,218, £4 for £1 £4,260, £3 for £1 £42,120, £2 for £1 £63,930, £1 10s for £1 £7,ooo—a total of £100.028. '1 lie South Island receives £3 for £1 £7,877, and £2 for £1 £2,007—£9,884 in all, and of that amount £2,400 granted to Southland is all that comes south of the Waitaki River. The league is more convinced than ever that the policy for which we stood while the Highways Board was before Parliament—-viss., a highways hoard for each island, is the only equitable and economical solution of the present unsatisfactory position.” After a full discussion it was resolved that the matter bo further discussed with loilal bodies and kindred associations, and such further steps taken as may bo deemed necessary to niruier the interests of country ratepayers and road users.

The Secretary reported the steps taken in connection with the proposed visit of fifty American tourists, and the arrangements made in connection with their accommodation. Nothing further can be done in the matter till final inA structions are received from America regarding actual dates of arrival.