MAIN HIGHWAYS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 December 1927, Page 5

MAIN HIGHWAYS

A BIGGER REVENUE.

EXTENSION OF THE WORK. SMAl.lv BOROUGHS TO BENEFIT. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO "THE STAR.”) WELLINGTON. Dec. 12. Indications of the widening .scope oi the main ‘highways scheme, as a result of t'he 'petrol tax revenue, are shown in several of the Highways Board’s decisions this week. The question of the distribution of the petrol tax and the declaration of new niaiin highways as .roposod when the tax was introduced was discussed at considerable length, and instructions were issued for the district highway councils to be called together to consider and recommend secondary -roads for declaration as main highways. The proposal is that Approximate' ; v three thousand miles of new main highways will be declared under this heading- In all probability, maintenance only will bo -subsidised on. these main highways, as it is not expected that there will be any money available for construction, at any rate in the early stages of the new scheme. In .addition steps are. to be taken to declare as main highways and to continue the present main highways through boroughs of less than 6000 inhabitants. When such are deo’iared, the boroughs will be entitled to receive subsidies bn the same basis on both construction and maintenance, a« now paid to county councils. In accordance with the provision that a ,certain percentage of the petrol tax is to be allocated (for building betterclass pavements on’ the main highways radiating from cities, and larger boroughs. an application was received from the Waimariri County Council, Christchurch, for a £3 for £1 subsidy towards the cost of reconstructing the main highway from Christchurch extending northwards to what is known as White’s bridge, over the Waimakajir.i River. The hoard decided to approve of the application. The board has also .in hand prelim in ary negotiations in regard to reconstructing the main highway -immediateIv south of Dunedin. With a view t<t obtaining immediate, results from the expenditure on thi-s road, the board is conferring with the district highways council concerning the inauguration of a progressive maintenance -policy, pending an arrangement being finalised in regard to reconstruction and building of a high-class pavement. The board will visit Canterbury, Otago, Central Otago and Southland districts between January 21st and 31st.