MAIN HIGHWAYS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 165, 13 June 1936, Page 9

MAIN HIGHWAYS

ASSUMPTION BY STATE. CONTROL BY BOARD. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 12 The proposals of the Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion, and to bo responsible for their construction and maintenance, were explained in detail to-day by the Minister of Public t\orks (Hon. R. Semple). Tho Minister made it clear that not all main highways listed as such are to be taken over, but only those highways 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 for 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 or these routes to cater at all times for all needs. The backbone of the Dominion’s road transport was undoubtedly its truck highway system, and tjlie country’s interests would be better served by the State accepting the responsibility for 'the necessary improvement and the jumper unkeeji of its arterial roads than by the multiplicity of control which now existed.

The intention of the jiroposed 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 bo in the nature of increased financial aid to the roading authorities affected and would enable them to apply their funds to ordinary county hignways and rural roads, witn a consequent advantage to the outlying districts. ANTECEDENT LIABILITIES.

It was not proposed to transfer to the State the responsibility for antecedent liabilities and the idea was that, from the 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 funds. \\ here a work had already been completed, no allowance would be made to 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 would pay its contribution only up to 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 with the knowledge and consent of the Minister. L ntil the legislation was passed and the State highways system became 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. 14c was confident that the co-operation manifested in the past would continue until the full scheme was brought into operation. HIGHWAYS SELECTED. The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected to form the State highways system was announced by the Minister as follows, the figures showing that approximately 2300 miles of road are in the North Lslaud and 1800 in the South Island:— % Miles lvaituia to Whangarei, via Ohaeawai and Dargaville ... 104 'Whangarei to Dargaville 39 Whvigarei to Maungaturoto, via Waijiu 41 Dargaville to Maungaturoto 42 Auckland to Henelsville 33 Auckland to Maungaturoto 75 Auckland to Wellington, via New Plymouth . 469 Pokeno to Whakatane, via Ngatea and Tauranga 165 Hamilton to Pueroa 47 Hamilton to Whakatane, via Rotorua . 126 Gisborne to Whakatane, via Waioeka 135 Rotorua to Napier, via Taupo ... 150 Napier to Gisborne 146 Gisborne to Ruatoria 82 New Plymouth to Hawera, via Opunake 67 To Kuiti to Bulls, via Taumarunui ,• 204 Wanganui to Horopito, via Parapara 67 Napier to Wellington, via Wairarapa 213 National Park to Taupo 67 Levin to Palmerston North, via . Makerua 30 Sanson to Palmerston North ...... 1 o Palmerston North to Woodville 17 Pic ton to Bluff, via Rangitata ... 613 Blenheim to Nelson 77 Nelson to Westport 142 Richmond to Collingwood 78 Imingahua Junction to Weheka 213 Christchurch to Kumura Station 143 Timaru to Cromwell, via Tairas 235 Lumsden to Queenstown 63 Gore to Lunwlen 40 Invercargill to Lurnsden 56 Clarksville to Queenstown 146