MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15700, 29 August 1914, Page 9

MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS

QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE.

DIRECT CHARGE OX STATE

GOVERN3I ENT'S PROPOSALS.

BT TKI.K' IRA HIT—SPECIAL COIUISSPO.N'DENT.]

We 1,1, i nt. to v, F lid ay. Provision - fur tbo expenditure of public funds upon main arterial roads is made in tho Local Grant-sand Subsidies Bill, which was introduced in 'he House of Representatives this evening. Tho ascertainment of roads which are " main arterial" and the expenditure required ar-s to be recommended by tho board of wurks ((instituted by the Bill, am' its report is to be presented to tha House of Representatives.

Tho Bill define a main arteiial road as ono which passes in a continuous line through at least two counties or in a continuous line from a railwaj to a seaport. Continuity will not bo deemed to bo broken by reason merely that part of tho road is a street of a borough, or is v itliin a town district. A further clause of tho definition provides that tho road must be so generally used that it is substantially unjust that funds tor its maintenance and repair should bo exclusively provided by tho local authorities of tho districts through which the road passes. Subject to this definition a main arterial road is a road wh.ch Parliament determines to be such in .iccordanco with a report by tho board.

A further duty of the board will bo to do tor raino what proportion of tho cost of construction, maintenance, and repair of such roads should he contributed by local authorities, and what expenditure should bo made from public funds. Tho reports of the board are to l>e submitted to the Houso of Representatives, and provision is to l>o mado lor expenditure in accordance with the resolution of the House.

Another section of the Bill provides that all annual license fees paid in respect of motor vehicles shall be paid over to tho Board of Works after tho cost of administration has been deducted. Th?se moneys are to bo kept in a separate account and utilised for the special maintenance and repair of such roads and bridges as are most utilised for motor traffic.