DOMINION ROADS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19122, 17 September 1936, Page 12

DOMINION ROADS

IMPROVED STANDARD CO-OPERATIVE EFFORTS UNIFYING- CONTROL ALTERATIONS PROPOSED (Parliammitary Reporter.) TVELLINGTON, this day. Alterations proposed in the administration ol; main highways were announced in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of I’ubiic Works, the .11,on. R. Semple. The improved standard of the principal roads of the Dominion to-day had been brought about only by the co-operative efforts of the board and tlit 1 local authorities concerned, but lie considered that: the existing methods of administration did not adequately eater for present-day needs. This applied particularly to tho divided control of main 'highways and the delay and inconvenience which arose through lack of co-ordinated and planned administration. Although many local authorities were possessed ,of a broad national perspective, there were, unfortunately, others which allowed purely local considerations to prejudice their judgment. “ Under the present system of control/’ said Mr. .Semple, “it lias happened that trunk routes remain uncompleted because of the inability or unwillingness of a local authority to contribute a reasonable share of the finance involved. In order to unify the control of the principal arterial highways and to ensure that such highways are properly conditioned for continuous service, it is proposed t,o place approximately 4000 miles under the direct control of the Main Highways Board. This mileage will be selected from existing main highways and classified as a State highways system, so that the full cost of improvements to a reasonable standard and the proper maintenance of that standard will be provided wholly i'r.qm the main highways account. This also will relieve local authorities of some financial obligations and enable them to devote needed attention to secondary highways of local importance as well as ordinary county or settlement roads. LEGISLATION COMING “The necessary legislation to give effect to tho foregoing proposal will be brought down in the near future. .1 have discussed with the Main Highways Board s.otvio of the details involved in the change contemplated, and tentative arrangements have already been made in anticipation of the scheme being brought into operation.

“It. is proposed to include In the amending legislation provision for regulating the functions of the b.oard in accordance with this policy. “The extension of the board’s jurisdiction in respect of the proposed State highways system and tho intention to retain the board with its present personnel indicate a recognition by the Government of the success achieved under tho board’s administration.” The Minister statetl that tho total expenditure from highways on actual works, as distinct from loan and special charges, last year amounted to £1,600,000, nearly £400,000 more than was expended on similar works during the year immediately preceding. In addition, interest and loan charges accounted for £202,000, while generalrate subsidies, together with a special subside on rates levied upon tanning land, involved further payments aggregating £371,001). bate subsidies The question of charging rate subsidies to the main highways account was one. which the Government intended to review. Although the present urgent requirements Jiad not yet enabled the matter to be completely investigated, the financing of highways operations entirely from revenue instead of partly from loan money tts hitherto also was receiving serious consideration. The progressive increase in annual loan charges, in respect of highways, now involved the appropriation of approximately £300,000 per annum, and it was desirable that if tit till possible future works should be financed from current revenues.

Expenditure from the highways revenue fund throughout the entire highways .system averaged the equivalent 0f'£122.4 per mile, compared with £100.3 for the previous year. “.In order to meet present requirements it is proposed to allocate £1,000,000 from highways funds this year for maintenance purposes,” continued the Minister. “In addition, £200,000 is being provided for urgent bridge renewals. PE EM A N ENT SUE PA O INC! “The permanent surfacing of trunk routes and radial highways, which parry a sustained volume of traffic, resulted in the completion, during the past year, of 277 miles of dustloss pavement. At March 31, 1936, the total length of highways thus surfaced was 1943 miles, which is 16 per cent of the total main highways system. This class of work will <bo continued during the current year, the intention being to concentrate primarily upon the main arterial roads, although other highway sections will receive attention. A number of construction works are in process of completion, and these will be continued during the present year. “In addition, further works comprising reconstruction, realignment, widening of narrow and dangerous sections, general improvements, now bridging, and level crossing eliminations will be undertaken, and for this purpose approximately £1,300,000 is being appropriated. The Government lias arranged for the Main Highways Board to proceed with a vigorous programme of railway crossing eliminations.

“During the past year the main highways account provided for local authorities from public funds SO per cent of the cost of maintenance and 84 per cent, of the cost of construction. SETTLEMENT ROADS

“The net expenditure from capital funds on settlement and other roads during the last financial year amounted to £444,377, as compared with £371,573 for the previous year, an increase of £72,804. These figures do not include any sums which were found by local authorities in respect of subsidies granted towards works under their control, Most of tho ex-

panditure related to the formation and metalling of roads in outlying areas. Last year 336 miles of road were reformed or formed as against 303 miles for the previous year, while 645 miles were metalled, compared with 714 miles for the previous year. “1 am 'convinced that, notwithstanding the attention which has been given in the past to the provision of some form of access lo those in hackblock districts, the time lias arrived when this question must be given special consideration. “The development of the tourist and scenic attractions of the Dominion is onlv possible according to the measure of ' their accessibility, and, where necessary, expenditure has been incurred in the construction or improvement of roads leading to these attractions.

“Having regard to the experiences of the past, tho climatic changes to which the country is prone, and the probability of flood' damage—sometimes of an extremely substantial nature —occurring at frequent intervals, it appears that serious 'consideration should bo given to tho inclusion of a reasonable .contingency item in the annual budgets of every local roadcontrolling authority for use should occasion require,”