SOUTH ISLAND COUNTIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18895, 22 June 1923, Page 2

SOUTH ISLAND COUNTIES.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS. HIGHWAYS. AND MOTOR VEHICLES. ; (Per United Press, Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 20. The South Island Counties Conference carried the following remits That the provisions of the Highways Act are not acceptable to county councils—(l) with regard to the constitution of the board and its powers; (2) with regard to finance; (3) that its ‘application generally is calculated to have the effect of disintegrating our system of local body government by increasing the responsibilities on the one hand and detracting from their powers regarding administration and control. on the other. - That the financial provisions; of the Act press to heavily on local bodies, and require revision before the board can properly function. That steps be taken to restrict the powers of the Main Highways Board, and that greater power be given to district councils. . That the conference urge that there be two boards, one for each island. That all loan moneys be distributed as required to the respective boards, each undertaking to provide it? own proportion of interest, sinking fund, and charges. That each board shall receive an allocation of the moneys received by the Crown .under section 14, apportioned to: each by ' reference to the number of motor vehicles registered in use in each island. . The conference affirmed the principle that every consideration should bo given to roads leading to trains or ports. ' That we protest to the Government against any attempt at. making the proposed Motor Vehicles Bill the means of '.producing revenue for roads, but that it should aim at providing legislation fo properly regulate traffic; and, further,, that it , should provide for an annual registration of 'motor vehicles and the annual licensing of drivers of motor vehicles. ; That no new department should be set up to administer the Act. , ■ That the Police Department bo the regis-’ tering and licensing authorities. ; That the fees for motor cycles be 5s and for cars 10s, and that the amounts collected lie handed to the local authority in whose area the vehicle is domiciled, less 15 per cent. That in the event of the Public,: Works ■ Department taking over control of main arterial roads, the definition of ; “main arterial roads” shpuld include main roads other than those running contiguous*to railways,' especially those roads largely used for tourist traffic. That as heavy traffic by-laws are required all over New Zealand, the Government be requested to bring in a Bill dealing with the subject in comprehensive manner, and that the Cminties’ Association be asked to draft a suitable Bill. That the Minister of Public Works bo asked to define the position in respect to money raised by the licensing of motor vehicles in regard to vehicles already licensed under local body by-laws and plying on roads which may become main highways, or, alternately, to indicate, ’ where vehicles are licensed under the Main Highways Act, what proportion of licensing fees is to be repayable to local bodies the roads of which are used also by licensed vehicles, and, further, whether any proportion of the moneys raised by Customs duties as tyre tax may not he payable to local bodies already controlling the main roads with or without Government subsidy.