HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19511, 15 December 1926, Page 16

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE

WAIKATO COUNTY PROBLEM. NEW CLASSIFICATION SCHEME. DEFEAT OF THE PROPOSAL. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. J HAMILTON. Tuesday. A deadlock was reached at a meeting of the Waikato County Council to-day when a proposal having the effect of merging the road board districts within the county boundaries into the county was submitted. Two of the members representing two road board districts opposed the proposal, two members desired further time to consider the matter, and the remainder favoured the proposal. The issue was somewhat clouded by the receipt of a letter from the Highways Council referring to the maintenance of the Main Soutli Road. Mr. L. B. Campbell, chairman of the No. 2 Highways Council, in a letter, said that at a recent conference between the Main Highways Board and the council the desirability of merging the road board districts into the county was discussed. The writer pointed out that under the present system the council was losing considerable sums in the way of payment of subsidies on rates, but one of the most important features so far as the Highways Board was concerned was that if the county was organised as one unit it should be possible to obtain better and more economical results in the matter of road maintenance. With the latter end in view the board suggested that at least so far as the main highways were concerned the council might consider the question of making all main highways in the county roads, instead of district roads. Power to enable this to be done was vested in the county by section 104 of the Public Works Act, 1908. Mr. T. Hinton moved, " That the council affirm the principle of declaring all main arterial roads main county roads." Ho said the council had been considering the matter of merging all the road board districts into the county for the last two years, and it was time something was done to effect this. Mr. G. Smith, in seconding the motion, said the county had not been working as a county for years and it was time that a change took place. With a united county the council could buy up-to-date machinery and employ expert supervision. The council's position with the Main Highways Board with regard to the maintenance of the Main South Road would not be prejudiced. Mr. T. H. Henderson said consideration should be first given to providing farmers' roads. He approved of the principle given in the motion, but wanted time to consider the motion. Mr. S. S. G. Lye took exception to a reference in the Herald on Saturday to a proposal to declare all main highways within the county boundaries county roads. He said the Tamahere Eoad Board was not sympathetic with the proposal and claimed that road board would have nothi»g to gain by merging into the county- There was no community of interest" between the road board and the county. The chairman, Mr. W. Newell, and Mr. Henderson said that when the Main Highways Board conferred with the council Mr. Lye' expressed himself strongly in sympathy with the suggestion to merge the Tamahere Eoad Board district into the county. The chairman said Mr. Lye had himself to blame for any misunderstanding that arose. The chairman said he was in favour of the principle declaring all district roads county roads, but thought the matter should bo held over for a month. Mr. Hinton replied that he was determined to bring about amalgamation. The motion was lost on the voices, and Mr. Hinton gave notice to introduce the subject again at the next meeting.