MAIN HIGHWAYS SYSTEM

Evening Star, Issue 19063, 5 October 1925, Page 11

MAIN HIGHWAYS SYSTEM

MOTOR PRESIDENT’S COMMENT HELP FOR SMALL BODIES URGED. In an explanation of the club’s attitude towards the system under which the Main Highways Board controls the dominion’s roads, the president the Otago Motor Club (Mr A. E. Ansell) referred at the club’s annual meeting on Saturday to the agitation for the institution of two separate boards, and the anxiety of the club that small county councils should be assisted. One question needing comment, he said, was the small assistance that had been given to county councils. The club considered that there should be assistance on the basis of through traffic, so that local bodies could bo equitably treated. The decision of the board that the county councils should receive 50 per cent., of maintenance, had made those bodies more sympathetic to the board’s objects, and should go a long way towards establishing better roads. He hoped, however, that, following the granting of • the subsidy, the county councils would not be lax in ensuring that roads were up, to standard. Though the main roads should be the chief consideration of motorists, added the chairman, the question of “ secondary roads ” should not be forgotten. Ho referred to the fact that in other countries roads were classified into three grades—first, second, and third—and some such system, ho thought, should be adopted in New Zealand. Financial consideration entered into the question, hut he felt that it was essential that something should be done for such roads ns the Portobollo road. Speaking of the agitation for the creation of two highways boards, the president recalled the promise of the Prime Minister that if the Main Highways Board did not function efficiently two boards should bo established. The system of separate allocations had altered their. attitude, and if it was found to function properly every assistance would bo given to tho hoard. But if it did not, the club would strongly revert to.-its agitation for two hoards. Tho President expressed satisfaction at the announcement that tho Highways Board would make a thorough inspection of tho South Island roads. He believed that the members of the board were earnest, and did all that the regulations by which they had to abide allowed them.