MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1053, 27 June 1924, Page 4

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

LOCAL BODIES' BORROWING. LEVIN-WAIKANAE PROJECT. MINISTER PROMISES LEGISLATION. The question of local body borrowing under the Main Highways Act was brought to the notice of the Minister of Publio Works on Wednesday at by a deputation from the Ilorowhenua County Council, introduced bv Mr W. 11. Field, M.P.

The point raised was that local bodies had no authoritv to borrow under the Act. Works authorised by the Highways Board were thus being held up because local bodies had no authority to raise loan* to finance their half of the capital cost.

The Minister said the Government was aware of tiie position, and was preparing measures to meet it as soon as possible.

Mr Field explained that the county was responsible for 48 miles of the main road from Wellington to the north, its stretching from Waikatuus to Levin. It was proposed to form this road to a width of 24 feet, the bitumen paving to be 18 feet wide. The road had been declared a main highway, and the Highways Board had accepted the county's scheme. For the latter to do its part, a loan of £89,000 was required, but there was no authority to borrow. Unless the authority were enacted. the county would miss the paving season, which might mean a year's delav.

Mr Coates replied that legislation would be required, anil the necessary clause was being drafted, lie was not sure whether the difficulty could be overcome by validation, but. if it could, then a clause would be inserted in an early Finance Bill. The Prime Minister had had the clause drafted. lie hoped to have something definite to tell them within a week.

Mr G. A. Monk further requested that that special financial provision should be made in the case of the road referred to. It wis mostly used by traffic from without the county ; the county was long and narrow, and" had to maintain an unusually long stretch of highway, and the burden on ratepayers would be heavy. It was asked, therefore, that more assistance than the half undertaken by the Highways Hoard should be given. A grant of £SOOO to £4OOO from the Public Works Department for formation was suggested. The Minister replied that the road had been declared a mam highway and the Public Works Department could not contribute a penny piece. The board's contribution was also limited by statute to 5C per cent. He would, however, get tht chief engineer (Mr F. W. Furkert) to ex amine the position and see if anything could be done.