ARTERIAL ROADS

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 52

ARTERIAL ROADS

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE DISCUSSION. WELLINGTON. October 4. The proposed legis ation in the Alain High ways Dill was the subject of discussion at the Municipal Ooiueience. -Mr King (Mayor of Devonport) moved that the necessary amending legislation be sought vesting the control and maintenance of all main arterial roads in the Government. inclusive of that portion of the main arterial roads which comes within the boundaries of any city, borough, or town board. lie said it seemed that the Government was not going to accept any responsibility for reads that passed through the local bodies’ areas. The Bill would seriously affect local bodies by depriving them of motor license fees, etc. In seconding the motion. Mr Rishworth (Mayor of Lower llutt) said he thought the Government should take over the control of the whole main arterial roads, including those portions which passed through the boroughs. Mr M. Luckie (Wellington) thought the Government should subsidise local bodies through whose areas the main roads passed. If one central board of control were established he anticipated constant disaffection from county councils and other smaller bodies. It would be a very serious tiling if municipalities were to be robbed of power to tax vehicles. If legislation to this effect were passed a large addition would have to be effected to the general rates. Mr J. A Fleslier (Christchurch) moved as an amendment—" That the conference strongly objects to the proposals that those portions of the arterial loads lying within the boundaries of cities, boroughs, or town districts should be excluded from the pro visions of the Arterial Roads Bill and the burden of maintenance, such portions being oast upon the cities, boroughs, and town districts concerned without sharing in the revenue from the annual licensing and registration of motor vehicles, tyres, and other taxation.

Mr L. M'Kenzie (Wellington) thought they should protest to the Government for trespassing upon the cities' right and privileges. Ho advocated that a petrol and a tyre tax should be imposed upon motor vehicles, and that local authorities should have the right of maintaining their own roads. He objected to delegating the control of streets to an outside authority. Mr F. T. Bellringer (New Plymouth) said he thought the control of roads should remain under the jurisdiction of the local bodies, and that the owners of motor vehicles should contribute to the cost of maintenance. He further thought that the Government should increase tile subsidies to enable the bodies concerned to maintain the arterial roads.

After further discussion the following motion, which was drafted by Mr Fleslier. was carried —“That this conference is of the opinion that the eo3t of constructing and maintaining the main arterial roads of the dominion should be a charge on the Consolidated Fund, but. it. objects to the burden of maintaining such portions of such roads as lie within the boundaries of a town district being cast upon the city or borough concerned without sharing in the revenue proposed to be raised from the licensing of motor - vehicles, etc.”