BETTER ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 12

BETTER ROADS.

AUCKLAND'S MAIN OUTLETS

WORK OF HIGHWAYS BOARD.

FURTHER GRANTS TO BE MADE.

Some interesting information regarding the operations of the Main Highways Board in the Auckland district is contained in a letter from Mr. F. W. Furkert, the board's chairman, to the secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The letter is in reply to a resolution passed at the recent conference of provincial chambers of commerce urging the expediting of better road communication from Auckland to Hamilton and to Wliangarei. Mr. Furkert states that north of Auckland the board has in hand a definite scheme for linking Auckland and Whangarei by metalled road. Over £70,000 was spent during the last financial year on this undertaking, and during the present season it is proposed to provide a substantial grant for further work. "It is possiblo, that before next winter the Hoard will have established all-the-year-round road communication between Auckland and Whangarei," states Mr. Furkert. On the Main South Road between Auckland and Hamilton the board ha 3 in hand the surfacing of the Rangiriri Hills section, a length of about 17 miles. Negotiations with the Waikato and Waipa County Councils with regard to surfacing between Ohinewai and Hamilton have been finalised, while negotiations are at present in train with the Franklin County Council in respect of the section in that county. During the past two years the board has carried out extensive widening works throughout the whole length of this highway, as well as important works at Mercer.

Referring to tho possibility that the conference had in mind tho completion of the whole work within one year, Mr. Furkert said that such a proposal was physically impossible. Such a scheme would involve the allocation to this ono road of tho wholo of tho capital funds available for expenditure in the North Island.