ROADING PROPOSALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18172, 18 August 1922, Page 9

ROADING PROPOSALS.

INTENTIONS OF MINISTER.

tfOEEOAST OF LEGISLATION,

SMALL BOARD OF CONTROL.

\u outline of reading legislation 'which. ne proposes to introduce during tie pre--jnt, session of Parliament has been issued by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J- G. Coates, to the bodies represented at the conference held, in Wellington in Juno. The Minister states that he is 6till conTinced his Bill of last session was an effective method of dealing with what is admittedly a difficult problem. Ho is against the suggestion of a board of control for each island, and is strongly of opinion that one, small board will beat gerve requirements. He will propose that the board consist of a chairman to be appointed by tho Government, one member representing tho Public Works Department, one member representing local eoterning bodies to be appointed 0 n the recommendation of the Counties Association Executive, and one member representing motor interests, the method of his nomination to be decided by the interests concerned. It may, he says, be necessary later to set up a special organisation, but in the meantime the organisation of the Public Works Department and the local bodies will be used. Valuation of Construction. In order to give some consideration to enterprising counties who hare spent money in first-class construction, the Minister proposes to have the road sur- | face valued, and pay to the local bodies concerned one-third of the cost of interest and sinking fund on the sums spent in permanent improvement of any roads that come under the board's jurisdiction after classification. He estimates that there will bo between 2000 and 2500 miles of "primary" roads and 6500 miles of "secondary" roads. It would not bo possible at present to extend to these secondary roads the scheme of paying for past work done. If progress is to be dependent on revenue it will be a very long period before substantial improvement is obtained, and it seems necessary to borrow definitely for road purposes. Tho estimated cost of bringing 2000 miles of tho primary roads up to first-class standard is something over £3,000,000. He realises that, local bodies will want some assistance while the intended permanent improvements are being carried out, and he proposes £60,000 should be devoted to that purpose^

Soads to be Classified. It might appear as though the limits of permanent improvement would be reached with the spending of a £5,000,000 loan on.an up-to-date road surfacing and . permanent improvements, the Minister continues, but such is not the case. The number of motor vehicles is constantly increasing—so far, at a much greater rate Itan the population. Therefore this factor, in common with the general increase ol wealth throughout the Dominion, will rtsult in an ever-increasing amount of money being available from the sources indicated, so that by the time the first loan is raised and expended the way will be clear for the raising of further loan moneys. Classification of roads is necessary and he will propose that in the meantime the board divide roads into " primary." " secondary," and the balance—the last-mentioned sot concerning the board, as it will not have io deal with them. The primary roads wiil be of such extent as it is clearly within the board's ability to finance. The secondary roads will be such additional main traffic roads as the board can be reasonably expected to deal with, either immediately cr as time goes on, and ways and means increase, "the Minister proposes, as he did in the main Bill, to divide finance into classes—capital or loan moneys and revenue moneys. The Government will for the time being and probably for many years to come make available an amount equivalent to the votes for individual roads, a proportion of the usual Consolidated Fund vote for road maintenance. The Taxation Question. The taxation on motor tyres will, the Customs Department considers, yield £150,000 per annum. Motor taxation — registration and license fees —is a vexed question, and probably represents the difference between success and failure of the scheme. Motorists at first were inclined to take the view that the tyre tax was enough, but he understood subsequently that they were agreeable to further taxation, but particularly wanted one Using authority only, and preferred that it" shouM be the Government and not local bodies..

On the basis of an annual licence foe of £3 for a private car and £10 for a lorry, it is estimated that £150,000 will be available from this source. "Bus will give the liosrd an annual revenue of:—Tyre tax, £150,000; motor license fees (or some other source qf revenue), £150,000; grant from Consolidated Fund, £35,000; grant from Public Works Fund, £200,000; total, £535,000. .In addition, assuming that they raise a loan of £3,000,000, at the rate of £300,000 a year, they will have that amount, less the interest. .