The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1923. MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT

Southland Times, Issue 18973, 21 June 1923, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1923. MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT

In spite of the Minister’s determined expressions, the Main Highways scheme which he has given to the country is £oing to be jeopardised if the constitution of the Board of Control remains as at present. The South Island is suspicious and no Ministerial assurances are going to remove those suspicions, for the simple reason that the future is beyond his control, and the board has extensive powers. On the board which is to administer this piece of legislation and enjoy great spending powers, the South Island has one representative in six, which means that the South Island may voice its complaints, but it cannot hope to do anything except by the permission of the North Island. The claim for two boards, one for each island, is backed by considerations of economy and efficiency, but most of all it is supported by the plain, unvarnished fact that a board in each island, handling the island’s fair proportion of the money available, is going to free the Minister from the imputation that this piece of legislation is designed to give the North Island advantages at the expense of the South. In theory the Minister may be able to advance arguments to confound the critics of the single board system, but past experience does not encourage confidence in centralisation, and is not likely to make the South Islander any readier to accept a control in which his voice may pipe away unheeded. It is doubtful yet, if the Minister really appreciates the strength of public opinion raised against this single board idea, but he will find out a Ettle more about it before long. The South Island will pro-

vide as much of the revenue as the North Island, but under the single board the first move will be on roads in the North. This, anyway, is the belief commonly held in the South Island, and the Government must not think that it can escape if it persists with this monstrously unfair system. Mr Coates has had a troublesome time with the constitution of the board already, and it is fairly clear that he is nervous of the North v. South question. With one'board in control of the administration this interisland feeling will persist, and in the end will bring about the breakdown of the project, in addition to making wobbly the seats of those members of the House who support the Government in this business. We hope the Southland League and various public bodies will make known their opinions on this subject, because this is the time to effect a change. The Government is not keen to forfeit support, but if Mr Coates persists with this ill-balanced, this dangerous board, he is going to make many enemies. What are the arguments to excuse the creation of a board which will lean to the North Island? We would like to hear them.