MAIN HIGHWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1928, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS

COUNTY COUNCIL’S OPINION. Desirous of obtaining the considered opinion of rural local bodies on the question of the control of main roads, and being aware of a’ strong movement afoot, the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union submited several pertinent questions to the Taranaki County Council yesterday in the form of a circular. The first was: Does the council consider that it would be in the national interest to adhere to the Highways Act with elight amendments, or to hand over all national highways to the Main Highways Board? Either the -farmer should be exempt from the Highway rate or the Government should take over the roads and maintain them, said Cr. Thomas. It was far better for the Government to perfect their organisation by taking over full control of the highways. If there was anything left over it could be spent on the subsidiary roads. The chairman (Cr. J. S. Connett). You would still have to pay for it. Cr. Thomas: None of us object to that, but the present system is not complete.

The chairman: If they took control ot all the roads they would have to find extra machinery. I doubt whether they could do it as cheaply as we arc doing it. Cr. Thomas: It ie not right having two people in control. Finally, it was moved that the council was in favour of adhering to the Highways Act. Cr. Thomas moved, as an amendment: “That the council is in favour of the Highways Board taking over the mam highways, provided that the county ratepayers be exempted from contributing to rates for maintaining them, as it is considered that they pay sufficient in tyre, petrol and. flat tax.’’ The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman, and t.lie motion was carried. The second question was: Would it be an advantage if the chairman of the Counties’ Association were chairman of the Highways Board and if the chairmen o£ the district councils were county representatives ? The district engineer was usually appointed, said the chairman, as he had all the information necessary in his office. It was decided that the council preferred things to remain as at present. Another question was: Would you be in favour of eliminating road boundaries between adjacent counties in favour of natural boundaries. Of this the council approved. Several other questions _ were asked which the council did not think mostly of consideration and others with which they did not agree.