MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16165, 29 August 1914, Page 3

MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS.

EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

(Fbom Ocb Own Corbesponoent.) WELLINGTON, August 23. Provision for tho expondituro of itxiiblio funds upon tho main arterial roads is ma<i<! in Uio Ixxxil Grant? and SiVbsidios Kill, wJiioh mifl intr(xluo«l in tho House of Representatives this o\-ening. 'llio asccrfciinment of roads whioli β-ro "main ai-torial" and tho cxpondituro required uvu to bo rooommondixl by tho board of works oonslitutod hv tho "Bill, and ita report is to bo ■prescntwl to tho House of Kcpro-nrntativcs. Tho Bill defines a main Arterial road as ono whidi passes in a , continuous lino through at least two wuntics, or m a continuous lino [torn a railway .to a sranort. Continuity will not ba deemed to be broken by reason merely that part of tho roadi is a street of a borough or is within a town district. A further clause of tho definition provides that the road must bo so ReneraUy used that it Ls substantially unjust that 'funds for its maintonanco and repair fflvouM be exclusively provided by tho local authorities of tho districts through which tho road passes. Subject to tho definition a mam arterial road is a road which Parliament determines to be such in accordance with a report by tho board. A further duty of the board will TO. to determine what proportion of tho cost of construction, maintenance, and repair of such roads should be contributed by tho local authorities, and what expenditure should be nrndo from tho public funds. The reports of the board are to bo submitted to tho Hotiso of Representatives, and provision is to bo mado for expenditure in aecordanco with tho resolution of tho House. Another section of the Bill provides that all annual license fees paid in respect of motor vehicles shall be -paid over to tho board of works after the- cost of administration has been deducted. These moneys are to be kept im a, separate account, and utilised for fclie special maintenance and repair of such roads and bridges as are most utilised for motor traffic.