MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 October 1924, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

MEETING OF THE BOARD

WORK PROCEEDING. The Main Highways Board held its monthly meeting at the Government Buildings last week, Mr F. W. Furkert presiding (the Post reports). That work is now proceeding under the Act is indicated by the fact that the statement of accounts shows the expenditure for the month of September as revenue fund £BOOO, construction fund £19,000; whereas the total expenditure from June 9 to August 31 was £6OOO and £19,000 from the respective accounts. A number of applications were received from borough councils for assistance towards the maintenance of the highway running through borough areas. The applications of the Feathefston, Pahiatua, Eketahuna, and Ross .Boroughs were approved, but the board was unable to approve the applications of the Greymouth, Westport-;/ aiid Akaroa Boroughs. The board also decided in connection with section 23 of the Main Highways Act, relating to assistance Lor boroughs, that in view of the fact that its liabilities Tinder the Revenue Fund now total the full amount appropriated by Parliament, consideration of aiiy further applications from boroughs for assistance towards the upkeep of streets which are continuations of main highways will necessarily have to stand oyer until the end of the current financial year. Some time ago the hoard decided to issue standard specifications for road construction for the guidance of local authorities, and drafts of these specifications were circulated'among members of the board. As soon as the members have had an opportunity 1 of considering them the specifications will be printed and circulated among local authorities. It is hoped by doing this to assist in obtaining uniformity in construction, so far, of course, as local conditions and . finance will allow, throughout the Dominion. The board also considered- ’certain suggestions which had been- made for the standardisation of road sighs on highways. It is the desire of the board to co-operate as much as possible with the motorists throughout the country in this matter, and as well submitting the proposals to the New Zealand Counties’ Association, they are to', be sent to the North and South Island Motor Unions and-the Alotor Traders’ Association. The question of the abolition of tollgates in Taranaki to enable the lengths of roads affected by these gates being declared main highways was the subject of a lengthy debate. The Stratford County Council indicated that it iis prepared to abolish the Waifjuku toll-gate at. the end of the, current financial year, and on.this understanding the hoard proposes to recommend to the Minister of Public Works for declaration as a main highway the section of the Auckland-Wellington highway within _ the Inglewood County area, which is affected by the gate belonging to the Stratford "County, and which was omitted .from the list of highways for this reason. The other county councils concerned, namely, Eltham, Hawera and Taranaki, are not prepared to abolish their gates unless some arrangements can be made whereby the counties will not stand to lose by the. abolition of the gates. Ail endeavour is to he made during the current month to arrive at a compromise, and witb this end in view i\lr G. T. Murray, a member of the board, is to visit Taranaki to go into the matter with the local authorities concerned.