MAIN HIGHWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23005, 7 October 1936, Page 7

MAIN HIGHWAYS

ONE CONTROLLING AUTHORITY ATTACK ON COUNTY " SYSTEM " MR SEMPLE REFUTES ALLEGATION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. The allegation of the Counties' Association that the Main Highways Amendment Bill, which was introduced last week, constituted a violent attack on the county system of local Government, was denied by the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) in a statement issued this evenine. The Minister said that one of the main points of the Bill which the association did not fully appreciate was the provision for a measure of relief to local authorities estimated to reach in the vicinity of £BO,OOO in maintenance alone, and probably the equivalent of a further £40,000 a year in construction. "The Bill does not in any sense constitute a violent attack on the county system of local Government," said Mr Semple, "ana if, in the opinion of th_ Counties' Association, there is to be centralised bureaucratic control it would appear that the association considers the Main Highways Board a bureaucratic body. It is known, however, that the association has never had cause to regard the board in that light. There may be a difference of opinion as to the wisdom of having State-controlled arterial roads, but transport and traffic conditions, as well as roading requirements, have changed considerable even since the main highways legislation wap first introduced about 14 years ago. There is not much room for argument against having one controlling authority for the main arterial roading system of the Dominion, and, as a matter of fact, the mileage tentatively proposed to be taken over— < 40 per cent.—is already controlled directly by the Main Highways Board. It was Interesting to know, the Minister tdded, that within a short time of the announcement of the proposed State highways system for New Zealand, the British Mmis- : ter of Transport had introduced a similar scheme. The arterial roads of the Dominion carried 60 per cent, of the traffic, and it would be reasonable to expect county councils to welcome the relief rather than to criticise the means by which it was to be given. "Although the extent of the relief to local bodies may not be as much as the Government would like to give," continued Mr Semple, "it is at least a commencement, and <the question of loan liability does not really enter into the matter at this stage. The Bill is not designed comprehensively to review and readjust roading finance as a whole, as its principal objective is to place the arterial highways under a form of control which will be in the best interests of the country. If the Bill is brought into effect there is no reason why countries should lose their interest in the particular portion of the area they control simply because the main road of the county is administered bv a national authority. There is glarir.g evidence throughout the country thai some counties hardly know a main arterial road exists and their lack of interest in the improvement and maintenance of art jrial sections has not displaytl very much concern' for a matter which is now represented to be of vitai importance. "Although such a view may not be acceptable to the Counties' Association," added the Minister, "it is definitely the policy of the Government that the elected tepresentatives of the people jhou 1 ! accept direct responsibility for the control and expenditure c" the public money In accordance with this policy the construction? activities of the Main Highways Board will, in future, be subject to review by the Minister, who, in turn, is answerable to Parliament and the people." The Minister added that the provisions of the main highways legislation did not in any way conflict with the policy of tht Mini ter of Internal Affairs regarding local govI ernment amalgamation and there was nothing in the Bill which would hinder or retard the amalgamation of local authorities Since the first announcement some months ago of the Government's intention to introduce a State system of highway* control the proposal had been warmly commeided by many public bodies in New Zealand, including local authorities affected by the Bill The only regret actually expressed had been that loan liabilities' were 1 not being taken over bv the Gov ernment. but that was a matter that might receive consideration with a view tn imorovements being effected if nossible. There were cases, Mr Semple added where local authorities had rated themselves for a period to meet their roadine obligations without borrowing, snd it would be manifestly unfair to relieve a local authority' which had b rrowed while doing nothing to helo one which had made sacrifices Althoueh the Counties' Association sought to make a strong case against the Bill it would annear from the communications received from individual sources that the views advanced by the association's representatives were not shared bv the majority of the local road-copf*" ll!nf ' anf'-ririties.