STATE HIGHWAYS ANNOUNCED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1936, Page 8

STATE HIGHWAYS ANNOUNCED.

MAKERUA PLAINS ROAD INCLUDED.

RELIEVING LOCAL BODIES OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

(By Telegraph-Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. Last Night.

The proposals of the Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion, and to be responsible through the Main Highways Board for their construction and maintenance, were explained in detail today by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple).

The Minister made it clear that not all main highway's listed as such are to be taken over, but only those nignways which are regarded as principal lines of 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 be deferred in some cases tor many years, principally because of the reluctance of the particular local authority to finance its quota. The value of arterial highways from the transport viewpoint and to the public welfare could only be measured by the ability of these routes to cater at all times for all needs. The backbone of the Dominion’s road transport was undoubtedly its trunk highway system and the country’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 the proposed legislation was,- firstly, to ensure that the principal lines of road communication would be administered directly by a central authority having Dominionwide jurisdiction, and for that purpose the Main Highways Board would be entrusted with the control of State highways. Secondly, the proposed legislation would give financial relief to local authorities by the extent to which they would ordinarily contribute to arterial highways. These savings to local bodies would be in the nature of increased financial aid to the reading authorities affected and would enable them to apply their funds to ordinary countj highways and rural roads, with a conseqent advantage to the outlying districts.

Antecedent Liabilities Not to be Taken over. It was not proposed to transfer to the State the responsibility for antecedent liabilities, and the idea was that fromthe date on which an arterial highway was classified as a State highway, the full cost of construction and maintenance would be met from the highways lands. Where a work had already been completed, no allowance would be made no the local authority concerned for its share of the expenditure, but where a work was still in hand at the time of classification, an apportionment would be made under which the local body ivould pay its contribution only up to the date on which the State highway was taken over.

In accordance with the Government’s policy that the people’s representatives should be • responsible for public expenditure, the activities of the Board in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of main highways were to be subject to Ministerial consent before a start was made. This did not mean approval of every detailed work, but rather that the general programme to be undertaken from time to time should be carried out rvith the knowledge and consent of the Minister.

Until the legislation was passed and the State highways system becomes an accomplished fact, the local authorities now in charge of the highways tentatively nominated, would retain control, and the question of maintenance would be a matter for the individual authorities affected. It was to be hoped''that local bodies would not neglect highways in anticipation of future maintenance being borne by the State. He was confident that the co-operation manifested in the past would continue

until the full scheme was brought into operation. Highways Tentatively Selected The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected m form the Slate highways system w:’s announced by the Minister as follows, the iigure sshowing that approximately 2300 miles of road are in the North Island and 1800 in the South Island:--Kaitaia to Whangarei, via Ohaeavvai and Dargaville, 104 miles. Whangarei to Dargaville, 30 miles. Whangarei to Maungaturoto, via. Waipu, 4-1 miles. Dargaville to Maungaturoto, 42 miles. Auckland to Helensville, 38 miles. Auckland to Maungaturoto, 75 miles. Auckland to Wellington, via New Plymouth, 4G9 miles. Pokeno to Whakatane, via Ngatca. and Tauranga, 105 miles, Hamilton to Paeroa, 47 miles. Hamilton to Whakatane, via Rotorua, 126 miles. Gisborne to Whakatane, via Waioeka,, 130 miles. Rotorua to Napier, via Taupo, 100 miles. ' Napier to Gisborne, 140 miles. Gisborne to Euatoria, 82 miles. New Plymouth to Kawera, via Opunake, 07 miles. Te ■ Kulti to Bulls, via Taumarunui,. 204 miles. Wanganui to Horopito, via Parnpara,. 07 miles. Napier to Wellington, via Wairarapa,. 213 miles. National Park to Taupo, 07 miles. Levin to Palmerston North, via Makcrua, 30 miles. Sanson to Palmerston North, 15 miles. Palmerston North to Woodville, 17 miles. Picton to Bluff, via Rangitata, 013 miles. Blenheim to Nelson, 77 miles. Nelson to Westport, 142 miles, Richmond to Collingwood, 78 miles. Inangahua Junction to Weheka, 213 miles. Christchurch to Kumara station, 14.1 miles. Timaru to Cromwell, via Tarras, 235 miles. Lumsden to Queenstown, 03 miles. Clarksville to Queenstown, 146 miles. Gore to Lumsden, 40 miles. Invercargill to Lumsden, 50 miles.