MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 March 1936, Page 5

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

CHRISTCHURCH, 'This Day. At least one of the boards which , comes under the jurisdiction of the MinI istcr of Public Works, the Hon. R. j Semple, is not under the threat of being issued with a set of running shoes. This ! is the Main Highways Board, and not only will if be allowed 16 continue in existence but it will be given much more important work to do in the future. The Minister said in an interview this morning that he intended to introduce in Parliament in tlie coming session a Bill to provide that the main arterial roads of the Dominion should he brought under the direct control of the Main Highways Board, ihe same board, lie said, would continue to function. It had done good work, and lie saw no reason for gel I ing rid of it.

Under the new Bill county councils will not be called upon to meet any further cost of maintenance and eonsftuction of arterial roads, and will be left free to concentrate upon secondary and access roads in conjunction with the Public ..Works Department. 1 he Minister was asked if there was any intention of altering the present motor taxation in the Dominion and he declared that there was no suggestion of making any alteration, and lie had never discussed the matter with the Minister of Finance. For the maintenance of subsidiary roads, county councils would continue to receive at least the same subsidies as were paid at present and possibly they would get more. “We have got. to provide roads for outback settlers,” said the Minister, “and nothing will he done to hamper that work.”