MAIN HIGHWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1921, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS

CLIFTUN COUNTY'S ATTITUDE. MINISTER'S PROPOSAL SUPPORTED. _ a i. DIRECT ROUTE TO AUCKLAND. The Main Highways Bill was the subject of some discussion at the meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday. A letter was received from the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce forwarding a resolution expressing gratification at the selection by the Minister of Public Works of the Te Kuiti-Waitara Road as one of the first four arterial routes to be taken over by the Government. "The letter added: “The claims of settlement are of old standing, and it is unlikely that the district will be served by a railway for many years.” The Chamber also hoped that the council would support the resolution in view of the attempts that were being made to dissuade the Government from carrying out its proposal to make this road a main arterial one, in favor of other roads. The Chamber felt sure that it would be to the advantage of the districts served by the road, as well as to the, country as a whole, to push on with the road, which would give direct communication with Auckland and Taranaki, and would give relief to the settlers who had been for so long handicapped by bad communication. The secretary of the New Zealand Counties’ Association also a copy of a resolution in connection with the association’s opposition to the proposed. Main Highways Bill, stating that the decision of the conference was practically unanimous in opposition to the Bill. The conference was unanimously in support of the resolution which opposed the government taking over main roads, and it approved of a tax on motor tyres as a contribution towards road maintenance; also suggesting that in lieu of the present subsidy a subsidy of 10s in the £ on general rates be granted, such subsidy to be expended on the main traffic roads in each county, as defined by a board representative of the Government and county councils.

The chairman said that the Counties’ Conference was of opinion that instead of having main arterial roads constructed as suggested, alongside the railways to compete with the railways, it would be <far better to provide money for making roads in districts that had no railways to act as reeaers to railways. The roads, as proposed,, would, in a good many cases, act mainly as tourist routes.

Cr. Jones said that he favored the proposal as suggested by, the Minister. He thought they should not discourage the Minister in his laudable efforts to construct the road, though he thought that however bad the local authorities might’ be, they could carry out the work better than the Government, which had difficulty at times over money matters. However, he .did not want to support any resolution that might discourage the Minister. He favored the suggestion of a board of control to decide which roads were to be constructed, and tho question of subsidy. The opposition t<v the proposal might cause the Minister to think that the country had turned down his efforts to effect an improvement. after being asked through the length and breadth of the country to effect some improvement.

The chairman thought they should support the resolution of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. The road from Te Kuiti to New Plymouth was not parallel with a railway, and would be a good feeder to the railway. Cr. Foreman said it was rather a pity that counties should l\ave taken up an attitude antagonistic to the after he had been asked all over the Dominion to do something.

The chairman said that the proposal at present benefited few counties as compared with the number that it did not benefit, and naturally the latter were opposed to it. It was all a question of whether the roads should remain under the control of the Government or the local bodies. Personally he thought if the money were found by subsidy and expended by local bodies, the work ,would be done more economically.

Cr. Jones said that as far as the Clifton county was concerned it wonl<| be better to let the Government do the M’ork. because whatever it cost they would do it, whereas if the council asked for the amount necessary the Government would get a shock. He moved: “That in reply to the Counties’ Conference request to oppose the proposed Main Highways Bill, thin council, situated as it;, is with miles of uuconstructed main road, favors the Highways Bill, and especially the selection of the Wai-tara-Te Kuiti Road, as one of the main arterial roads to be taken over by the Government; and the council further considers that counties through which main highways do not pass should receive increased subsidies on rates.” This was seconded by Cr. Sutton, and carried.