STATE CONTROLLED HIGHWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 6

STATE CONTROLLED HIGHWAYS

Over Four Thousand Miles PICTON TO BLUFF INCLUDED Relief For Local Bodies (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, June 12. The proposals of the Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion and to be responsible, through the Main Highways Board, for their construction and maintenance were explained in detail to-day by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple). The Minister made it clear that not all the main highways listed as such are to be taken over, but only those highways which are regarded as the principal lines of road communication. I’’ 1 ’’ These, in future, will be classified as State highways. “In some quarters,” Mr Semple said, “it has been accepted that the intention is to place all main highways under the direct control of the Main Highways Board, thereby relieving local authorities of any obligation to finance any part of the cost of the highways system... This is not correct, as the proposals cover only the principal arterial or trunk roads, which are already known as main highways. Past experience has shown that important teconstruction or improvements on arterial highways have had to be deferred in some cases for many, years, principally because of the reluctance of a particular local authority to finance its quota. The value of the arterial highways from a transport viewpoint and to the public welfare can only be measured by the ability of these routes to cater at all times for all needs. The backbone of the Dominion’s road transport is undoubtedly its trunk highway system, and the country’s interests would be better served by the State accepting responsibility for the necessary improvement and proper upkeep of its arterial roads than by multiplicity of control which now exists. A Central Authority. The intention of the proposed legislation is:—(1) To ensure that the principal lines of road communication will be administered directly by a central authority having Dominion-wide jurisdiction, and for this purpose the Main Highways Board will be entrusted with the control of State highways. (2) The proposed legislation will give financial relief to local authorities by the extent to which they would ordinarily contribute to arterial highways. These savings to local bodies will be in the nature of increased financial aid to reading authorities affected, and will enable them to apply their funds to ordinary county highways and rural roads, with consequent advantage to outlying districts. “The value of the present main highways system, embracing as it does the co-operation of local authorities and the State, both in administration and finance, is fully appreciated, but it is capable of extension, according to the needs of the day. Many local bodies contend that arterial highways carry a considerable amount of foreign traffic, and the proposed legislation will definitely place on the State the full financial burden of maintaining approximately 400 miles of arterial roads which, according to a recent traffic census, carry nearly 80 per cent, of the Dominion’s total highway traffic. It is not proposed to transfer to the State responsibility for antecedent liabilities, and the idea is that from the date on which an arterial highway is classified as a State highway, the full cost of construction and maintenance will be made from the Highways Funds. Where the work has already been completed, no allowance will be made to the local authority concerned nor its share of expenditure but where work is still in hand at the time of classification an apportionment will be made, under which the local body will pay its contribution only up to the date on which the State highway is taken over.” Position of Counties. jMr Semple said that there would doubtless be complaints from some counties which had financed improvements to arterial highways. They might feel that they were in a worse position than other counties, which had delayed their action and which, under the new proposals, would have their arterial highways completed and surfaced free of cost. However, the same position had arisen previously when main highways were first Gazetted, and also with each increase in the highways subsidy rates. It had to be remembered that local authorities which had improved their highways had received the enjoyment of those improvements, and no doubt had found them an economical investment. “The Legislature has not, so far, given authority for retrospective payments from the Highways Funds,” the Minister continued, “and it is not proposed to do so now. It might be explained that where a local authority is making deferred payments for completed prior to a State highway being taken over, such payments will continue until the debt is liquidated. Any local authority dissatisfied with a decision of the Main Highways Board will have the right of appeal to the Minister. Previously, power to apportion the cost of highway works has been vested solely in the Main Highways Board. In accordance with the Government’s policy that the people’s representatives should be responsible for public expenditure, the activities of the board in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of main highways are to be subject to Ministerial consent before a start is made. This does not mean the approval of every detailed work, but rather that the general programme to be undertaken from time to time should be carried out with the knowledge and consent of the Minister.” Request To Authorities. “Until the legislation is passed and the State highways system becomes an accomplished fact, the local authorities now in charge of the highways tentatively nominated will retain control, and the question of maintenance will’ be a matter for the individual authorities affected,” said Mr Semple. “It is to be hoped that these local bodies will not neglect the highways in anticipation of future maintenance being borne by the State. I appeal to those local bodies concerned to continue adequate maintenance of "he probable State highways, and I am confident that the co-operation shown in the past will continue until the. full scheme is brought into operation. The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected to form the State highways system has been announced by the Minister as follows, the figures showing that approximately 2300 miles of road are in

the North Island and 1800 in the South Island:— . Kaitaia-Whangarei, via Ohaeawai and Dargaville, 104 miles. Whangarei-Dargaville, 39 miles. Whangarei-Maungaturoto, via Waipu, 41 miles. Dargaville-Maungaturoto, 42 miles. Auckland-Helensville, 38 miles. Auckland-Maungaturoto, 75 miles. Auckland- Wellington, via New Plymouth, 469 miles. Pokeno-Whakatane, via Ngatea and Tauranga, 165 miles. Hamilton-Paeroa, 47 miles. Hamilton-Whakatane, via Rotorua, 126 miles. Gisborne-Whakatane, via Waioeka, 135 miles. Rotorua-Napier, via Taupo, 150 miles. Napier-Gisborne, 146 miles. Gisbome-Ruatoria, 82 miles. New Plymouth-Hawera, via Opunake, 67 miles. Te Kuiti-Bulls, via Taumarunui, 204 miles. Wanganui-Hordpito, via Parapara, 67 miles. Napier-Wellington, via Wairarapa, 213 miles. National Park-Taupo, 68 miles. Levin-Palmerston North, via Makerua, 30 miles. Sanson-Palmerston North, 15 miles. Palmerston North-Woodville, 17 miles. Picton-Bluff, via Rangitata, 613 miles. Blenheim-Nelson, 77 miles. Nelson-Westport, 14 miles. Richmond-Collingwood, 78 miles. Inangahua - Junction - Weheka, 213 miles. Christchurch-Kumara Station, 143 miles. Timaru-Cromwell, via Tarras, 235 miles. Lumsden-Queenstown, 63 miles. Clarksville-Queenstown, 146 miles. Gore-Lumsden, 40 miles. Invercargill-Lumsden, 56 miles.