GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17330, 29 November 1919, Page 13

GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT.

HELENSVILLE TO HAMILTON.

CONSTRUCTION AND UPKEEP.

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

The matter of the maintenance of the main roads from Auckland to Hamilton and to Helensville formed the subject of a conference held at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The conference, which was convened by the Manukau County Council, was attended by 22 delegates, representing the districts concerned, ■also by Mr. G. BaiUion, representing the City Council, and Mr. M. H. Wynyard, president of the Goods Roads Association.

Mr, A. D. Bell, chairman of the Manukau County Council, presided.

Mr. Wynyard spoke of the activities of his association, and of the benefits attaching to the Victorian system of roading, details of which he explained. A resolution from the association had recently been forwarded to the Government, requesting a £ for £ subsidy on the immediate construction of the Rangiriri Hills portion of the Great South Road, the cost and maintenance to be opportioned among those benefiting. A reply was received that a grant of £500 on account of £3000 (£ for £) had been placed on the Estimates this year for the construction of the proposed Rangiriri Hills deviation. Surveys had been made and plans prepared, and the apportionment of cost would be considered at a conference of local bodies concerned. Other speakers emphasised the terrible condition of the Great South Road, and the need for unanimity among local bodies in regard to any scheme of main read construction brought forward. Sir Frederick Lang stated that the £500 referred to was only a preliminary step, and that the total amount, £5000, would be available as soon as the question of allocation had been settled by the local bodies themselves. Proposals by Conference. After further discussion, the following resolutions were carried — " This this conference affirms the principle that the main road between Helensville and. Hamilton should, so far as concerns necessary construction and maintenance to bring it up to a standard to carry modern traffic, be borne half by the Government and half by the local bodies interested according to benefits received."

" That the Government be requested to appoint a commission—the personnel to be approved by a committee appointed at this meeting— settle the route, the nature, and estimates of the cost of such road."

" That upon the report of such commission an application be made for the appointment. of a commission under the Public Works Act to apportion among local bodies benefiting (a) the balance of the cost of construction of such road; and (b) the future maintenance of such road, and also the nomination of the local body or bodies to construct the same."

*' That a standing committee be appointed for the purpose of making an allocation between local bodies concerned of the cost (not to exceed £150 in all) of the preliminary costs in connection with these proposals, of approving the personnel of the suggested commission, and of dealing with any other matters arising out of the resolutions passed, with power to call another conference if necessary. Legislation Advocated.

The conference also adopted a resolution strongly supporting the proposals of the Good Roads' Association for a system of main road administration and finance according to the resolutions adopted at the conference in Wellington, and requesting the Government to consider at an early date the introduction of legislature to carry the proposals into effect. The following Executive Committee was appointed -.—Messrs. A. D. Bell (Manukau County Council), chairman, P. H. Watts (Hamilton Borough Council), G. Baildon (Auckland City Council), J. McLeod (Helensville Town Board), M. H. Wynyard (Good Roads Association), T. J. Lockwood (Franklin County Council), J. P. Bailey (Waikato County Council), H. Aitkenhead (Waitemata County Council )> and M. J. Coyle (Mount Albert Borough Council).

NORTH AUCKLAND HIGHWAY.

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD.

The proposal to construct a main arterial road to connect, Auckland with the far north is to be considered at a conference of delegates representing ail the local bodies of North Auckland to be held at Maungaturoto on Thursday, December 4. One of the chief items of discussion, it is stated, will be the important matter of route, and in respect to this aspect of the proposal the conference will b e requested to agree to the findings of an independent commission. Representatives of the Auckland City Council, Good Roads Association, North Auckland Development Board, and other public bodies have been invited to attend the conference.