MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 30

MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD

ITS FUNCTIONS AND PERSONNEL. ,Fi*.oii Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 13. The personnel 0 f the Main Highways Board appointed under the Act passed last year is as follows:—Two members (who may be officers of the Public Works Department or any other Department of the State, or any other persons), of whom one shall be chairman of the board ; Mr F. W. Furkert, Under-Secretary and Engineer-in-Chief for the Public Works Department; Mr G. T. Murray, inspecting engineer, Public Works Department. One member, being an officer of the Public Works Department (for administrative purposes); Mr C. G. Godfrey, Assistant t nder-Secretary of the Public Works Department. Two members to be appointed with the approval of the Minister of Public Works on the recommendation of the executive of the New Zealand Counties Association; Mr J. D. Bruce (Akaroal, and Mr J. 11. Jull (Waipawa). These were the only candidates nominated.) One member as representative of the owners of motor vehicles: Mr M. H. Wynyard; of Auckland (nominated by the New Zealand Motor Association). One other candidate nominated by the South Island Motor Association. Messrs Furkert, Godfrey, and Murray are the Government nominees. Mr Bruce and Mr Jull have been for some years associated with local government activity and have on several occasions represented provincial districts in the local authority conferences. Mr Wynvard was chairman of (he Good Roads Association and has for years taken a keen interest in national road problems. The Main Highways Act provides for (1) the appointment of a Main Highways Board, with powers of construction, maintenance and repair of main highways; (2) the appointment of local committees to be known as District Highways Councils, with advisory and consultative functions; (3) the declaration by the Governor-General of any road or street as a main highway; (4) the apportionment of the cost of construction, maintenance and repair between the Government through its representative on the Main. Highways Board and the several local authorities receiving benefit from the highway; (5) the earmarking of revenues derived from Customs duties on motor tyres for the purposes of main highways. The work or construction or repair of any highway may be carried out by the board or'hy the local authority of the district in which the highway is situated. With respect to the cost of maintenance, the hoard contributes one-third, the balance being found by the local authorities, in proportions recommended by their representatives on the Advisory Board Committees. In the case of the cost of construction or reconstruction, the board contributes half cost.