HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 420, 10 June 1922, Page 5

HIGHWAYS BOARD.

NEW RUADING SCHEME.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 9.

The Minister of Public Works has issued an official statement regarding arterial roads, stating that the conference had agreed that it. was necessary to set up such air organisation as a highways board to bring about an improved standard of road construction and maintenance. 'lhe general sense or feeling of the meeting was that us improved roads are primarily required for the use of motor traffic, it is generally acknowledged that motors must provide a considerable proportion ot the money necessary U is assumed that something like £300,000 will bo produced from this source. To this would be added the same sum per annum, now provided from the Consolidated and Public Works Funds, but spent on what the conference suggested should be called main traffic roads, and what would, under a classification scheme, bo termed main arterial highways and roads of a secondary importance, but would not include any departmental roads or roads of purely local interest. The total funds assumed to be available would be £500,000. As to the disposal of these funds, it was recognised that a jiortion must bo devoted to maintenance, and a portion to the improvement of the existing standards, involving the reconstruction of some roads, and the new construction or deviation of others. A portion of the funds is to be paid to existing local authorities on a graded basis. Loans would be necessary. The Minister went into lengthy details as to the method of control suggested. The board would have six members, with a chairman, and would be divided into two. One section would administrate the South and the other the North Island.