ARTERIAL ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 14

ARTERIAL ROADS

CONTROL BY STATE PROPOSALS EXPLAINED ONLY PRINCIPAL ROUTES FUTURE RESPONSIBILITY [llY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday the proposals of the Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion and to be responsible through the Main Highways Board for their construction and maintenance were explained in detail today by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple. He made it clear that not all the main highways listed as such are to be taken over, hut only those highways which are regarded as the principal lines of road communication. These in future will be classified as State highways.

"In some quarters." Mr. Semple said, "it has been accepted that the intention is to place all main highways under the direct control of the Main Highways Board, thereby relieving local authorities of any obligation to finance any part of the cost of the highways system. This is not correct, as the proposals cover only the principal arterial or trunk roads which are already known as main highways. Transport Viewpoint "Past experience lias shown that important reconstruction or improvements of arterial highways have had to bo deferred, in some cases for many years, principally because of the rc--1 net an co of a particular local authority to finance its quota. The value of arterial highways from a transport viewpoint and to the public welfaro can only bo measured by the ability of these routes to cater at all times for all needs. The backbone of the Dominion's road transport is undoubtedly its trunk system, and the country's interests would be better served by the State accepting responsibility for the necessary improvement and proper upkeep of its arterial roads than by the multiplicity of control which now exists.

"The intention of proposed legislation is firstly to ensure that the principal lines of road communication will be admjnistercd directly by a central authority having Dominionwide jurisdiction, and for this purpose the Main Highways Board will be entrusted with the control of State highways. Secondly, the proposed legislation will give financial relief to local authorities by the extent to which they would ordinarily contribute to the arterial highways.

Taking Financial Burden "These savings to local bodies will be in tlio nature of increased financial aid to the roading authorities affected and will enable them to apply their funds to ordinary county highways and rural roads, with consequent advantage to the outlying districts. "The value of the present main highways system, embracing as it docs tho co-operation of local authorities I and the State, both in administration and finance, is fully appreciated, but it is capable of extension according to the needs of the day. Many iocnl bodies contend that the arterial highways carry a considerable amount of foieign traffic, and tho proposed legislation will definitely place on the State the full financial burden of maintaining approximately 4000 miles of arterial roads which, according to n recent traffic census, carry nearly 80 per cent of the Dominion's total highway traffic. The Antecedent Liabilities "It is not proposed to transfer to the State the responsibility for antecedent liabilities and the idea is that from the date on which an arterial highway is classified as a .State highway the full cost of construction and maintenance will be met from highways funds. Where a work has already been completed no' allowance will be made to the local authority concerned for its share of expenditure, but where a work is still in hand at the time of classification an apportionment will be made under which the local body will pay its contribution only up to the date on which the State highway is taken over." Mr. Semple said there would doubtless be complaints from some counties which had financed improvements to arterial highways. They might feel that thev were in a worse position than other counties which had delayed their action and which under the new proposals would have their arterial highways completed and surfaced free of Cost. However, the same position had arisen previously when main highways were first Gazetted and also with each increase in highways subsidy rates. It had to bo remembered that local authorities which improved their highways had received the enjoyment of those improvements and no doubt had found them an economical investment. No Retrospective Aid " The legislature has not so far given authority for restrospectivo assistance from highways funds," the Minister continued, " and it is not proposed to do so now. It might bo explained that whore a local authority is making deferred payments in respect of work completed prior to a State highway being taken over such payments will continue until ihe debt is liquidated. Any local authority dissatisfied with a decision of the Main Highways Board will havo tho right of appeal to the Minister. s, " Previously the power to apportion tho cost of iiighways works has been vested solely in the Main Highways Board. In accordance with tho Government's policy that tho people's representatives should be responsible for public expenditure tho activities of the board in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of main highways are to be subject to Ministerial consent before a start is made.

Appeal to Local Bodies *' This does not mean approval of every detailed work, but rather that tho general programme to bo undertaken from time to time should be carried out with tho knowledge and consent of tho Minister until legislation is passed and the State highways system becomes an accomplished fact. " Local authorities now in charge of the highways tentatively nominated will retain control and the question of maintenance will lie a matter for tho individual authorities affected. It is to be hoped that thoso local bodies will not neglect the highways in anticipation of future maintenance being borno by the State. 1 appeal to those local bodies concerned to continue tho adequate maintenance of probable State highways and 1 am confident that the co-operation manifested in the past will continue until the full scheme" is brought into operation."