STATE HIGHWAYS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12887, 13 June 1936, Page 5

STATE HIGHWAYS

ARTERIAL roads to BE taken. OVER BY BOARD. HON. R. SEMPLE OUTLINES PLAN. EAST COAST ROADS AFFECTED. NAPIER-GISBORNE: GISBORNERUATORIA; GISBORNEWHAKATANE. (Vress Association). WELLINGTON, June 12. The proposals of! tlio Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion and to be responsible through the Main Highways Hoard for their construction and maintenance were explained in detail to-day tv the Minister of Public Works. The Minister made it clear that not all the main highways listed as such are to tie taken over, lut only those highways which are regarded as the principal lines or road communication. These in future will be classified as State highways. Mr Semple said past experience had shown that important reconstruction or improvements on arterial highways had had to he deferred in some eases for many years principally because or a. particular local authority, to finance its quota. The value of arterial highways from a transport viewpoint and to "the public welfare could onlv he measured by the ability of these routes to cater at all times lor all. kTIio needs of the backbone of the ' f/iominion’s road transport was, undonbtedlv, its trunk highway system and the eouutrv’s interests would bo better served by the State accepting the responsibility for the necessary improvement and the proper upkeep of its arterial roads than _by the multiplicity of control which now existed. The, intention of proposed legislation was (1) to ensure that the principal lines of road communication would bo administered directly by a central, authority having Dominionwide jurisdiction and, for that purpose, the Main Highways Board would ho entrusted with the control of the Slate highways. (2) The proposed legislation would give financial roller to local authorities by the extent to which they would ordinarily contribute to the arterial highways. These savings to the local bodies would he in the nature of increased financial aid to, the roading authorities affected and would enable them to apply their funds to the ordinary _ county highways and rural roads, with consequent advantage to the outlying districts It was not proposed to transier to the State the responsibility for the antecedent liabilities and the idea v.as that from the date on. which an arterial highway was classified as ft State highway the full cost of construction, and maintenance would be met from tlio Highways Funds. V\ here a work had already boon completed, no allowance would ho made to the local authority concerned for its share of expenditure, but where a work was still in hand at the time of the classification, an apportionment would he made under which the local liodv would pay its contribution only up to the date on which the State highway was taken_ over 1 In accordance with the Government’s policy that the people’s representatives should be responsible lor tho public expenditure, activities of the board in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of main highways were to he subject to Ministerial consent before a start was made. This would not mean approval n i everv detailed work, but rather that the gener:« programme to be undertaken from time to time should he carried out with the knowledge and consent of the Minister. Until the legislation was passed and the c+ a to liighways system becomes an accomplished fact the local authorit•cs now in charge of the highways tentatively nominated would retain control and the nuestion of maintenance would be a matter for the individual authorities affected. It \as> to be hoped that the local bodies would not neglect the highways in anticipation of future maintenance, being borne by the State. ITe was confident. that the co-operation manifested in the past would continue un,u tb« full scheme was brought into operation „ . . , , - , The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected ■ to form the State highways system was announced bv the Minister .v follows, the figures showing that approximately 2300 miles of roads.are in the North Island and 1800 m the South Island. , , ‘ Kaitaia to Whangarei via Hhaeaai and Dargaville, 104 miles. v , Whano-arei to Dargaville, 39 miles. ) Whangarei to Maungaturoto via Waipu, -U miles. Dargaville to Maungaturotu. 42. U 1 Auckland to Heiensville.' 38 miles. Auckland >o Maungaturoto. ‘O 1,1 Auckland to Wellington, via New Plymouth. 469 miles. . Pokeno to Whakatane via Ngatea und Tauranga, 165 miles. Hamilton to Paeroa, 4/ miles. Hamilton to Whakatane via ixotonia, 126 miles. ~ . Gisborne to Whakatane, via Unlock a, ISo miles. _ , -w.q Rotorua to Napier via Ta-po. lbb to Gisborne, 14G miles. Gisborne to Huatorin, 82 miles. Now Plymouth to Hawera, via Opunakc, 67 miles. To Kuiti to Bulls via Taumarunui. 204 miles. . Wanganui to Horcpito, via l arapnra, 67 miles. . . „„„ Napier to Wellington via Wairarapa 213 miles. ~ National Park to Taupe, 0/ mi e. . Levin to Palmerston North, via Makerua, 30 miles. Sanson to Palmerston North, to Palmerston North to Woodvillc, \i C 1 P°icton to Bluff, via Rangitata, 613; miles, , Blenheim to Nelson. 1 7 mucs. Nelson to Westport. 142: miles. Richmond to Collingwood, 78 miles Inangahua Junction to W cheka, 21J ) miles. ‘ Christchurch to Kumnra Station, 143 miles. ~ . „ Timaru to Cromwell, un Tarras, 935 rnilcs. , Lumsden to Queenstown, 63 miles. Clarksville to Queenstown, 14b rm (fore to Lumsden, 40 miles. - Invercargill to Lumsden, 06 miles.