MAIN HIGHWAYS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1936, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS

GOVT. TO TAKE OVER

MR. SEMPLE’S STATEMENT

[per press association.]

WELLINGTON, June 12 Proposals of the Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion, and to be responsible, through the Main High ways Board, for their construction and maintenance, were explained in detail fo-dav by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple). The Minuter made it clear that, not all ot the main highways listed as such a e to be taken over, but only those higr ways which are regarded as Principal lines of road communication. These in future, will be classified as State W Mr"temple said that past expertence had shown that important reconstruction or improvements on artenai highways had to be deferred, in some cases for many years, principally be cause of the reluctance of a particular local authority to finance its quota. The value of the arterial highways, from the transport viewpoint and their value to the public welfaie, could only be measured by an ability of these routes to cater at all times for all needs. The backbone ot the Dominion’s road transport was undoubtedly its trunk highway system, and country interests would be bettei served by the State accepting re sponsibility for the necessary improvement and proper upkeep of its arterial roads, than by the multiplicity of control which now existed. The intention of the proposed legislation was. firstly, to ensure that the principal lines of road communication would be administered directly by a central authority having a Dominionwide jurisdiction, and for that puipose the Main Highways Board would be entrusted with the control of the State highways. Secondly, proposed legislation would give financial relief to the local authorities by the extent to which they would ordinarily contiibute to the arterial highways. These savings to the local authorities w’ould be in the nature of increased financial aid to the reading authorities affected, and would enable them to apply their funds to ordinary county highways and rural roads, with a consequent advantage to the outlying districts.

It was not proposed to transfer to the State the responsibility for antecedent liabilities, and the idea was that, from the date on which an arterial highway was classified as a State highway, the full cost of construction and maintenance would be met from the Highways Funds. Where a work had already been completed, no allowance would be made to the local authority concerned for its share of the expenditure; but where a work was still in hand at the time of classification, an apportionment would be made, under which the local body would pay its contribution only up to the date on which the State highway was taken’over.

In' accordance with the Government’s policy that the people’s representatives should be responsible for public expenditure, the activities of the Board in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of 'main highways were to be subject to Ministerial consent before a start was made. This does not mean the approval of every detailed work, but rather that the general programme to be undertaken from time to time should be carried out with the knowledge and consent of the Minister. Until the legislation was passed - and a State highways system becomes an accomplished fact, the local authorities now in charge of the highways tentatively nominated, would retain control, and the question of maintenance would be a matter for the individual authorities affected. It was to be hoped that the local bodies would not neglect highways in anticipation of future maintenance being borne by the State. He was confident that the co-operation manifested in the past would continue until the full scheme was brought into operation. The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected to form a State highways system was announced by the Minister as follow, the figures showing that approximately 2300 miles of these roads are in the North Island and 1800 miles in the South Island: — NORTH ISLAND. Kaitaia to Whangarei, via Ohaeawai and Dargaville, 104 miles. Whangarei to Dargaville, 39 miles. Whangarei to Maungaturoto, via Waipu, 41 miles. Dargaville to Maungaturoto, 42 miles. Auckland to Helensville, 38 miles. Auckland to Mafingaturoto, 75 miles. Auckland to Wellington, via New Plymouth, 469 miles. Pckeno to Whakatane ‘via Ngatea and Tauranga, 165 miles. Hamilton to Paeroa, 47 miles. Hamilton to Whakatane, via Rotorua, 126 miles. Gisborne to Whakatane, via Waioeka, 136 miles. Rotorua to Napier, via Taupo, IGO miles. Napier to Gisborne, 146 miles. Giborne to Ruatoria, 82 miles. New’ Plymouth to Hawera, via Opunake, 67 miles. OA J e Kuiti to Bulls, via Taumarunui, 204 miles. Wanganui to Horopito, via Parapara, 67 miles. » Napier to Wellington, via Wairarapa, 213 miles. National Park to Taupo, 67 miles. Levin to Palmerston North, 15 miles. Palmerston North to Woodville 17 miles. ’ SOUTH ISLAND. Ficton to via Rangitata, 613 miles. Blenheim to Nelson, 77 miles. Nelson to Westport, 142 miles. Richmond to Collingwood, 78 miles, inangahua Junction to Weheka 213 miles. Christchurch to Kumara Station, 143 miles. Timaru to Cromwell, via Tarras, 235 miles.. Lumsden to Queenstown, 63 miles. Clarksville to Queenstown, 146 miles. Gore to Lumsden, 40 miles. Invercargill to Lumsden, 56 miles.