UPKEEP OF ROADS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22833, 18 March 1936, Page 13

UPKEEP OF ROADS

THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY UNIFORM CONTROL ESSENTIAL (From Our Special Reporter) INVERCARGILL, March 17. The Government’s plan for the taking over of all main arterial routes by the Main Highways Board was outlined by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, in a conference with the Southland County Council to-night. The Minister stated that the Highways’ Board would attend to the main highways, but the counties would be expected to pay more attention to the secondary roads and better access would have to be given to outback settlers. “ In a competitive age like the present.” said the Minister, “it is important that we must have a good loading system and that means we must have uniform control right through. For that reason it has been decided to take over all arterial roads. I want you to understand, however, that you are not shirking your responsibility. If we relieve counties of the main arterial roads I think they can afford to be more liberal on the secondary roads. I know some of the counties will not like it, but I am.not worrying about that. What we have to consider is what will be best for the progress of the nation. Some of the counties think they might lose a bit of prestige. I. cannot see that.”

The Minister added that the Main Highways Board had done a great deal of work in New Zealand, but still greater progress could be made, especially in the South Island, which needed more paved roads. He thought the only way in which that progress could be made was by the method' he had outlined. In answer to a question the Minister said the Government still intended to pay the same subsidy or perhaps £3 for £1 on secondary roads.