THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 11

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

COST OF' UPKEEP. INEQUITABLE ALLOCATION ALLEGED. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON N., December 9. At a meeting of the Wellington Executive of the Farmers’ Union held at Marton, much discussion took place over the Main Highways Act and the opinion was expressed that the interests of the country ratepayers required watching in the apportioning of the cost of maintenance. There were two interests concerned in the main highways, the motorists and the country ratepayers. The motorists, according to the chairman, appeared to be getting the ear of the press to the detriment of the country people, who would find that whilst they were saddled with 1 the cost, the motorist would have the roads. Under the existing Act, the Main Highvyays Board would contribute only one-third to the maintenance of the main highways. The balance would have to be found by the country ratepayers. W T ith good roads the traffic increased and maintenance costs would rise.

In cases where foreign traffic predominated on the main highways, it would appear to be only equitable that the traffic should bear a share of the cost in proportion. In the case of the Wanganui highway between Wangaehu and Wanganui, 90 per cent, of the traffic was foreign. He considered that the Main Highways Board should increase its grant for maintenance to at least one-fialf the total cost, and recover the difference by way of increasing the tyre tax. Under the existing legislation, the country ratepayer would have to bear the cost while the motorist got off lightly. The maintenance question should be put on a sound footing before the work v making the highway proceeded. Other members present expressed the opinion that something should be done on the lines suggested, although one or two felt that the Act had improved the position of road maintenance. The following motion, moved by the chairman and seconded by Mr M’Elroy, was then carried: “That the Farmers’ Union supports the county councils in an endeavour to have the Main Highways Act amended to provide for the Main Highways Board contributing two-thirds of the cost of the Main Highways construfction and reconstruction, and half the cost of the main highways maintenance, and that the Government be asked to arrange for the provision of the necessary loan finance for the construction and reconstruction of the main highways.”