MAIN HIGHWAYS

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1936, Page 10

MAIN HIGHWAYS

IMPROVEMENT SCHEME Mr. Semple’s Bill (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 14. In the Hone, this afternoon, Mr. .Semple moved the second reading of the Alain Highways Amendment Bill. He said the .Bill was necessary to bring all highways to a high standard. If the present policy continued it would be many years before the four thousand miles of highway could be improved and paved, jft was proposed to go x on with constructional work and road improvement in the way of removing corners, etc The fou r thousand .miles selected carried 60 per cent, of the total rural traffic and of it 35 per cent, was already paved. The. cost of the proposal would add £120,000 a. year to the Main Highways Account, but- it would relieve the Counties to that extent. Of the paved highways. 950 miles were in the North Island and 450 miles in the South.

There had been an objection taken to the provision that where the Highways Board decided to construct, new roads, the consent of the Minister had first to be obtained. Complaint was made that that overrode the Board, but the Minister, Mr .Semple explained had nothing to do with maintenance, but if the Board decided to undertake constructional work, which might cost several thousands, before 'that work could be undertaken, the plan had to be submitted 1o the Minister, who. nine times out of ten, would give consen. The idea was that the Ministeiwas the connecting link between the spending authority and Cabinet, to which he was -responsible. Mr. Semple added that the question of taking heavy traffic fees from Counties had never been considered, ■and no provision for doing so was contained in the Bill. lie hoped, in future that the Government would be able to take over the liabilities the Counties had incurred in the past, and make them State liability. There was a mighty task iahead of the Govern men!..

Dealing with back country roads, he said that the present Bill was a step in that, direction. In his opinion, Counties should never have been saddled with the liablity of providing main highways, as that, was a national matter. Road's to farmers’ lands and side roads were different., and 'there was some liability there.

Air Coates said the Highways Boards were mere pawns in the hands of the Minister, who would now have complete control of motor funds. The principal automobile associations which now approved the proposal had so strenuously opposed in the past that he could not understand the weakness of the automobile associations and why they had caved in so completely. The Bill was an authority to the Minister to improve four thousand miles of main highways, but that was all. What of the other eight thousand miles of main highways? Mr. Semple said they would concentrate on the four thousand miles first and would tackle the rest, later.

Mr. - Coates thought it. wrong that all the money should be spent on four thousand: miles, while the other eight thousand miles was left. Mr. Christie said that considerable reorganisation would be necessary, and plant would have to be obtained when the four thousand miles of road was taken over. He thought there would have to be some reorganisation of Counties themselves. That wms long overdue, and when the Highways Board' took over all highways, there could be no objection to rhe reorI ganisation of Counties, and the drawing up of fresh boundaries. Mr. Dickie said no more money would be provided under the Bill. The Counties would still control eight thousand-miles of'highways, and he contended there would be a scramble for the money available. He asked the Minister -to do the fair thing by the Counties that had brought their roads up io date. He thought the Counties that had borrowed money and had considerable loans should receive special consideration, when the Counties which had consistently refused to pay were to have the roads put in order for nothing out of the country’s funds.

Mr. Barclay said it was not intended when- these four thousand miles of road were taken over that, the Counties should reduce rates, but the money should be used on the remaining highways and backbloek roads. He contended that when the Hignways Board .took over the roads, the riding system in Counties should be done away with, as it would be most unfair, because some ridings would receive considerable advantage over others. • Mr. Hargest urged that, subsidies on rates should be given on a flat rate. He said' that some large Counties were penalised when compared with small Counties. The Bill was a step in the right direction.

Mr. Wilkinson agreed that the Bill was a step in the right direction, and tlie Minister was io be congratulated. His action would be appreciated right through the Dominion, lie urged the Minister to employ the staff and plant of the Counties, if it were possible to do so.

Air. Polson said 1 that in general he agreed with the Bill. The Minister admitted the Highways Board had done a great work, and if complete control by the. Board would mean uniformity in construction of highways. why divest it of its powers and substitute political control? Mr. Hamilton asked if there wouldbe a great saving to the counties. The Bill did not provide money to relieve them of the amount, they were now spending. -.According to the Bill, the subsidies that, would he given the counties would be less than in the past.

Mr. Semple,• in reply, said he was quite sure the economies of the Bill were sound'. lie had not been shaken by the arguments-of the Opposition Members. The Main Highways Board approved of -tho Bill. J f tho Board robbed the eight, thousand miles . of highway to feed the four thousand miles, it, would not be right, hut they would not do so. The money would come from' expanding revenue from the petrol tax. That amount had' increased by ten per eent. this year, and this meant £200.000 additional revenue. More than a million sterling would be spent on secondary roads this year, and the Board was not going to slack up anywhere. The second r eading was carried.

The Washing-up Bill, dealing with

Crown Lands reserves endowments, and other matters, and a similar measure dealing with native lands, -were introduced and. read a first time. The House went into committee on Hie Main Highways Bill. The short title wks passed, after a. discussion lasting about an hour. A division was called for on clause three, which provided that construct zonal work should not be undertaken without the consent of fhe Minister, but the clause was retained by 35 to Hi. Progress was reported.