TIMELY REMITS ON ROADING NEGLECT

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1947, Page 3

TIMELY REMITS ON ROADING NEGLECT

KAITAIA, Mon. (Sp.).—State and main highway improvement needs, county roading, land development and primary production increases as aid for Britain, transport services and publicity were the main headings under which 20 remits were discussed by the 11th annual conference of the Northland Associated Chambers of Commerce on Saturday.

Owing to a 1.1-hour delay in opening the conference due to floods which delayed the arrival of many delegates, discussion was limited in many cases.

The floods gave timely emphasis to demands from the conference for improved arterial roading in Northland. Officially opening proceedings the retiring Mayor of Kaitaia (Mr J. T. B. Taaffe) said it was significant that flood points identical witli those causing traffic hold-ups 25 years ago were still the main causes of trouble.

No better case for improvements could be presented than the flooding which delegates had seen for themselves, said Mr J. F. Johnson (Whangarei) in sponsoring what was, by coincidence, the first remit on the agenda. This was: “That the Government be again approached for a much imI proved arterial roading system and that the whole position ol' state highways in Northland be gone into.” It was seconded by Mr L. G. Thompson (Kaitaia) and canned unanimously. Northland’s sealed roads totalled only 110 miles, giving adverse comparison with most other areas, said Mr Johnson, who referred specifically to delayed development, high transport operation costs, and the adverse effect on potential primary production which were the direct resdlt of poor roading. Highway improvements in other wcll-roaded areas could well be delayed until Northland was better served, ho added, describing the area as a “Cinderella, with neither prince nor fairy godmother to assist." It was significant that despite the expenditure of huge sums on improvements to highways well above Northland standards, the authorities had stated there were no funds for relatively small-scale improvements to Northland, said Mr Thompson. On the motion of Mr D. Wilson, seconded by Mr C. A. Morse, a remit from the Dargaville chamber seeking declaration of the Dargaville-Rawone road as a state highway was carried. Maintenance needed to cope with passing tourist traffic through the Waipoua Forest and general wear was beyond the resources of the county council responsible ,the sponsors said.

Dealing with secondary highways finance was the following remit proposed by Mr V. F. Cracknell (Kaikohe) and supported by Mr W. R. Vallencc (Whangarei). “That the Main Highways Board be urged to carry out essential work on main highways where county councils are unable, through lack of money, men, materials, and machinery, tc finance the work, and that greater financial assistance be given county councils for this purpose.” In eases where county councils were unable to meet the one-quarter share of highway improvement costs the work was not done. said Mr Cracknell.

Mi- Valkmce reierred to Whangarei County’s £22.000 annual maintenance bill and 1o lack of financial contribution from the Maori community. Mr A. M. Theed (Kaitaia) sounded a note of warning against “handing back too much to the Government.” He said machinery already existed for the provisions aimed at by the remit. The remit was carried.

On the motion of Mr H. F. Guy (Kaikohe), seconded by Mr D. L. Buchan (Dargaville), the conference supported demands for a larger allocation of revenue from motor taxation to road improvement and maintenance. Coupled with this was the suggestion, also carried, that the price of petrol throughout New Zealand be standardised.

Speaking to this Mr Guy said that such a step should not prove impossible, and stressed the viewpoint that residents of remote areas, who were the larger users of petrol, were penalised under the present higher prices operating at a distance from the main distributing centres. Aid for Britain was first discussed when a remit came forward from the Kaikohe and Whangarei chambers supporting the Government and the Aid for Britain Council of New Zealand in its efforts to sponsor a national campaign and pledging cooperation. This was carried unanimously.