ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19967, 8 December 1926, Page 4

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

MOTOR CLUB’S SCHEME. BRUCE COUNTY APPROVES. One county at least has decided to support the Otago Motor Club’s scheme for financing tiie reconstruction of the main highway between Palmerston and Milton. At the meeting of the Bruce County Council yesterday the members, with three exceptions, after some discussion, agreed that the Motor Club’s proposal would benefit the county, and a resolution to that effect was carried. At the invitation of the council, the chairman of the District Highways Council (Mr J. K. Marks) waited on the council, and explained the scheme from his point of view. Mr Marks said that if ho were able to throw more light on the Otago Motor Club's scheme he would feel that his time had not been wasted. He emphasised that the local bodies should agree to throw in their lots together and get pushed through Parliament the Bill which would ho necessary before the scheme came into operation. Dealing with the matter of finance, Mr Marks pointed out that maintenance of the Bruce County's portion of tiu- main highway last year cost £3200. This year very little had been done, and the county had spent £4OOO on the section already. It now appeared that another £IOOO would be required before the end of the year, On this basis, it seemed as if future maintenance would be not less than £SOOO per annum, of which the county would have to pay two-fifths. Under the new scheme, tin Highways Board proposed to attend to 30 miles of road within the Bruce County, the cost of which would amount, roughly, to £IOO per mile, or £3OOO in all. Of this amount, the county would be responsible for £I2OO. If a loan of £IO.OOO were raised interest and sinking fund _ on this sum would be £7OO, bringing the council’s total yearly expenditure to £IOOO. For this expenditure, Mr Marks explained, the county would get bettor roads, and have something to show for its money. Ho would advise the members to recommend Ihc scheme lo the ratepayers, ami to encourage other local bodies to do likewise. There was no doubt as to what sum the scheme would involve the county in. The Otago Motor Club would finance it and undertake to got the Bill through Parliament if the county would find £IO,OOO. A tax of £2 per vehicle would be imposed on motorists until the total amount required by tho club was subscribed. The speaker emphasised the fact that when the local bodies came to a decision on tho matter, the Government was willing to discuss it with them. The Highways Board was favourably disposed towards tho scheme. Mr Marks then outlined the class of road which it was proposed to build, and pointed out that in the event of the Public Works Department carrying out the work, maintenance and construction wotdd have lo be carried out at the same time. This would necessitate the department, during the construction of a certain section, coming on the county for maintenance until tho completed section was handed over. _ One thing was certain, said the. speaker, if some roading scheme were not brought into operation, the Highways Board would ho forced to demand from tho counties a portion of tho monov used in maintenance. Cr'D. M'Gregor: From whom are the Highways Board asking the money’, the ratepayers or the motorist i iho county 7 is not'bound to maintain the road. Mr Marks: The motorists are already paying throe-fifths of all maintenance of highways by way of taxation. <’r M’Gregor; Would yon be good enough to define whom you mean by the motorists? Mr Marks explained that ho meant tho users of the road. ’1 here was no doubt, bo said, that the bulk of tho expenditure in regard to road construction and maintenance fell on them. Cr M’Gregor said this was sheer claptrap If the! scheme came into force the ratepayers would have to shoulder a good deal of the burden, as they had to pay rates as well as motor taxes. Ihe idea that ratepayers should maintain the road and pay to'kccp a track for motorists, he declared vehemently, "is a piece of auogant presumption.” , , , ~ . Cr J Lockhart argued that tetter roads meant more speeding, which would increase maintenance costs correspondingly. There should hot, lie considered, be any call on the ratepayers, and ho was convinced that if the scheme were put before them ihev would .turn it down. Mr Marks pointed out that the scheme was designed to reduce and not to in--01 The Chairman (Cr W. J. Sheat) agreed with the previous speaker. Ho was convinced he said, that the scheme would ease the harden on the ratepayers, and a-- long as he knew what amount tho county would have to find, he would heartily support it. If it worked out it would bo of benefit to tho community. Cr Lockhart: There is that word ’if. The Chairman: There is a very decided “if” in the present scheme. Cr Clark said it was no use arguing whether tho county would have to maintain the road. It' was bound by Act of Parliament to do so. . , Several other members spoke m support of the. sctieme, and tho Chairman moved: “That this council approves of tho Otago Motor Club's roading scheme.” Cr Johnston seconded tho motion, which was carried, the only dissentients being Crs M’Gregor, Lockhart and A. Renton.