DECLARATION OF MAIN HIGHWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 23736, 7 February 1939, Page 7

DECLARATION OF MAIN HIGHWAYS

Substantial Increase Not Expected PRESENT PROGRAMME OF BOARD (Special to the Times) DUNEDIN, February 6. A warning that because of the extent of its programme at present it would be a considerable time before the board could consider any substantial increase in its declarations of main highways was given by 1 the deputy chairman of the Main Highways Board (Mr A. J. Baker) at a conference with local bodies in Dunedin today. Mr Baker said the board had an abnormal programme of work on hand in the improvement of the highway system throughout the Dominion and it would be years before it would feel justified in saying that that job had been done pretty well. Mr Baker said that complaints were sometimes received that the North Island was given an undue preference in highways matters, but if the figures were analysed it would be seen that the expenditure was very closely in proportion to the respective numbers of motor-vehicles in the two islands. In expenditure on construction and improvements the South Island’s share last year was proportionately higher than in the North Island by a fair amount, which indicated that the needs of the South Island were quite well looked after.

“I would like to say also,” Mr Baker said, “that the board’s funds were carrying a very big proportion of expenditure, especially in maintenance costs. Local authorities last year paid only 12.5 per cent., leaving the Highways Board 87.5 per cent, to pay. There has also been a sharp increase in maintenance costs, which have risen from an average of £90.5 a mile to £101.2 a mile, an increase of about £ll a mile.” Mr Baker emphasized that there was close co-operation between the Highways Board and the National Road Safety Council. Consequently the whole of the board’s construction work was closely in line with the requirements of safety, which was the major consideration on the roads.