MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18468, 3 August 1923, Page 11

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

OPERATION OF THE ACT.

PROVISION OF FINANCE.

POSITION OF LOCAL BODIES.

Matters relating to the Main Highways Act were discussed last evening at' : a meeting of -the Local Bodies'; Association. The president, Mr. R. G. Clark, occupied the chair,, and Mr. : M,/ H. '"} Wynyard, /' a member of the Main Highways Board, was present. ; * "/ - ; Mr. Wynyard said the Committees; would make recommendations to the board as to what roads should be taken over and the money to be allocated."- The: final decision, however, would rest with/ the board. : ' ' ■ :" As ~ far as ' revenue was concerned, it was estimated that the Government contribution would be about £230,000 a year. It. had been anticipated that the tyre tax would. produce about £150,000 a year, but during a period of 18 months only £162,000 had been received. It was evident that further revenue would have to be raised from motoring interests, and the matter would be discussed next week at a conference, called by himself ,of the motor interests of both islands. • The Government had : power . to raise up to £3,000.000 or. the security of thQ tyre tax. It was not intended to raise this amount at once. The scheme was new, and no doubt certain amendments and alterations would be required to meet;all' cases that would) arise.; For the first few .years: the annual revenue was estimated at about . ,£500,000.///:. ... ••-It was originally intended that the board should take over about 2000 miles of-, roads, added Mr. .Wynyard, but the distribution of the financial responsibility would enable the board to take over probably three times that mileage. The board would find half:, the • cost of construction and one-third of the , cost ' of maintenance, the local bodies find-ng- half the '■' construction, cost and two-thirds of the maintenance. . The board was also empowered to declare any portion of a road a Government ro"d and orovide fo 1 * a greater proportion of expenditure on it. The Act a'so provided that a road through a borough could be declared a main highway.' In the 1 iTer ( boroughs, the board had power to contribrte to the cost of construction and, maintenance of main roads in boroughs. Replying to questions, Mr. Wynyard said it was fully recognised bv the boad that the question of heavv traffic went Ho the root of all road construction. The matter had yet to be' considered in detail by the board, which really did not begin to function til! April ' next. As to whether the policy of .the board would be to start , from the cities and ■work outwards, Mr. Wynyard said , the . board had not yet. adopted any such policy. Much would depend on the recommendat; of the group committees. : It did not appear to.be at all necessary that the work should radiate from the cities to the country districts. Referring to -the Contributions by local bodies, Mr. Wvnyard said the Act did not provide authority for a local body to contribute- loan money to the cost of road construction without referring the matter to the ratepayers. In the event of the ratepaves refusing to sanction a loan, the local bodv v would be unable to make its contribution. The board, however, had power to carry out the work and charge the' proportion of cost to the local body. The board would lav down the standards for all roads constructed. ■ ■/