MAIN ROADS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16479, 19 February 1914, Page 9

MAIN ROADS.

AN AUCKLAND CONFERENCE

MAINTENANCE BY GOVERNMENT

URGED. . [Pek Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 18

-A, conference of tho many local bodies concerned in the maintenance of the Great South Road between Auckland and the Waikato was held this afternoon, the Mayor, 'Mr O. J. Parr, presiding. The conference was convened by the Mayor, owing to the bad state of repair into which Auckland's main artery-of'traffic to.the south-has fallen, and todevise some satisfactory method of putting it right, an undertaking beyond the limited moans of tho local bodies at present responsible for its upkeep. The score of the conference was extended to include the Great North Road.

Mr Parr r.aid certainly it was quite impossible for the local bodies along the line of route to maintain the, road; as the.districts, were in-j many cases! ■sparselyrpopulated, and the total road income was small. They had done the very, best thing they could under adverse circumstances. " Personally," said Mr Parr, "I am strongly in favour of the Government taking over the whole control of these roads, as is done in other countries, but once we claim -that the people of thai' South, Island niid in other provinces Would: demand'tlie same thing. It would be a big" contract for tho Government to take over all the main roads of New Zealand. As a matter of fact, districts outside the province of Auckland which already have excellent roads would probably object to be taxed for the upkeep of main arteries in other provinces, and would prefer to retain the present system: There; would conse-.; quently. almost certainly be • a good deal of outside objection to any" proposal that the Government should assume general control of the main thoroughfares of .New Zealand, and probably such a proposal would be blocked in the House of Representatives. Still, it is absolutely necessary in the interests of both city and country that some scheme should be evolved., and J think h? solution of the difficulty, would be ■mnd in the Government finding: half •the money and 'creating a Board or Main Road Commission for administrative purposes." After considerable discussion it was unanimously resolved, "That this conference affirms the principle that the Government should take over the control and upkeep of all main arterial roads." The Mayor of Hamilton, the mover, said that with the advent of the motor-car local bodies were no longer able toface the task of keeping the main roads in .order. A strong committee was formed to place the views of the conference before the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works.