MAIN HIGHWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 13

MAIN HIGHWAYS

BOARD S INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY SIX HUNDRED MORE MILES [From Oub Correspondent.] WELLINGTON/November: 19. Signs of a revival of the. progressive policy of the Main Highways Board are contained in the decision to declare as main highways a further series of public roads aggregating in length 600 miles. It means that in regard to these highways the national, authority takes approximately 75 per cent, of the financial responsibility for their maintenance, the local authorities, with whom it co-operates, undertaking the remainder. ' For several years-the board has been unable to extend' its jurisdiction in this way, excepting in a few isolated instances where the conditions were exceptional. It has been carrying the principal responsibility, however, fpr 11,500 miles of main highways and it now proposes to add a further 600 miles, the roads taken over being well distributed throughout the dominion. The Statute under which the board operates directs it to make an annual review of roads with the object of deciding those which it will take over. When the members of the board tour a portion of the North Island this month they will meet all local authorities concerned in road administration, and will give them details of the roads about to be taken over. The board will leave Wellington on November 23, proceed through the Manawatu, and thence to the King Country, returning to Taranaki and Wanganui, and reaching Wellington via the Wairhrapa on December 4. Other portions of the North Island will be visited during the year, and the board has completed a tour of the South Island.