SOUTHERN ROADS

Evening Star, Issue 19843, 17 April 1928, Page 10

SOUTHERN ROADS

THE PETROL TAX BOON [Special to tub ‘Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, April 10. Two important phases of the Main Highways Board’s road construction and manitcnance policy were outlined by Mr A. Tyndall, the board’s engineer, who is on a brief visit to t.hiistchuich. to a ‘Sun’ reporter to-day. Though none of the money received from the recently-imposed petrol tax has vet been paid over to the board, the ’funds received from this source will enable tho hoard to embark upon a scheme covering maintenance of the secondary highways. On April 2 2,75(1 miles of secondary roads throughout_the dominion wore gazetted mam highways. OF this total ahput 1.500 miles are in the South Island. Considering that the original intention of the board was to declare only 3,000 miles of secondary roads, the South Island lias been favoured with a big share in proportion to tho 38 per cent, of motor vehicles it carries. The reason why this island has been so liberally treated is because the cost of maintenance of its mads for overv mile is loss than it is in the North Island. Payment of the £3 to £1 subsidy made possible by the petrol tax will start from April 2. Another important point from Canterbury’s point of view is that the first contract tinder tho new subsidy basis bas been lot in Christchurch, which is the first place in the dominion to receive tho direct benefit of the new tax. Tins is tho construction of the three miles of ■main north road from the Styx bridge to Chaney’s corner, which is "to bo proceeded with in a day or two.