MAIN HIGHWAYS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 217, 27 August 1927, Page 6

MAIN HIGHWAYS

PROBLEMS TO BE FACED ROAD CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE. MOTORISTS HOLD CONFERENCE. “The land owners and the motorists are both wishful to have good roads and they meet on common ground," commented Mr. T. E. Crosse, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay County Council, in welcoming delegates to the North Island Motor Union yesterday afternoon. In the past, he said, the land owners made and kept the roads and would be willing still to do so if they had the means. They were, however, compelled to ask the motorists to carry more of the burden which increased year by year. There could be no doubt about the fact that the motorists would benefit by additional expenditure on the roads in the way of safety, comfort and reduced running costs. In all walks of life it was an accepted principle that the user paid for the use “Now," continued Mr. Crosse, “many important roads works are held up for the want of funds and I think that the proceeds from a petrol tax would remedy this.” Continuing, Mr Crosse felt that should the Conference pass a lution asking the Government to impose such a tax for the purpose of road construction and maintenance, then such a resolution would be applauded by all who had a real interest in the good of the land He went on to say that at a modest estimate of the motor cars in the Hawke’s Bay County and the towns therein would be 5000 and if such cars paid the annual license fee of £l5, which was much less than in England, the annual revenue available would be £75,000 for construction work. Under existing conditions the amount available from motor taxation together with subsidy out of general taxation, he pointed out, was about £B,OOO. QUESTION OF FINANCES. “Motorists must admit that they are the cause of all the trouble on the roads,’’ remarked Mr. F. W. Furkert, when he explained that from certain statistics made it had been found that the cost of maintenance of a mile of road had doubled since 1924. The decrease in the people travelling by the railways was also an indication for it could not be said that there were less people travelling ; they were using the roads which meant that the railways were showing a loss in this respect. “The roads are a custom,” commented the chairman (Mr A. J. Toogood). ‘‘l don’t know about that,” retorted Mr Furkert. “They are not assets j in fact they might be our litbilities.” He went on to explain that the Highways Board was actually spending more on the roads than it was receiving and there was, perhaps, a possibility of a change as the Board might have to reduce its subsidies to local bodies and so throw a greater burden on the land. It might possibly be that the roads would be allowed to fall back or find some more money from somewhere or other “In fairness to the local bodies 1 must say that though the Board has increased its subsidies, the local bodies had also increased its expend! ture,” stated Mr Furkert. “The ’ocal authorities have spent more of their money and the counties have come into line.”

HIGHWAYS BOARD AND • COUNCILS.

“There has been a tendency on the part of different sections of thg communities who appoint representatives on the Highways Board to ex pect them to view the Highways Act on a sectional viewpoint,” stated Mr A. E. Jull, in aduressing the members. “This was never intended to be so.” Mr Jull contended that the representatives should not seek to obtain instructions from the County Councils as to how they should as sist in the administration of the Act. “The Board is not sectional and looks upon the Act in a most business-like way and in its administration the Board is endeavouring to do its best for the whole community,” stated Mr Jull. Tlie speaker went on to say that it wa*- realised that certain local bodies’ administration was not as good as was expected. “We are to educate the local bodies to a better idea of administration in respect to road construction and maintenance This will not be acquired by “bludgeon’ methods but with co-operation of the local bodies," declared Mr Jull, who added that the Automobile people had shown a very fine spirit in road construction and their desire to co-operate in the welfare of the community. He thought the time was not far distant when the motorists would be represented on the District Councils of which there were 18 in the country. The bodies acted as advisory bodies to the Main Highways Board and the speaker felt that in time the Board would rest more on the councils than it did at present.