The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1929. MAIN HIGHWAYS POLICY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18441, 6 December 1929, Page 8

The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1929. MAIN HIGHWAYS POLICY

Interest in the work of the Hir.li wnys Hoard, in relation to the provision of better roads and more durable and convenient bridges in thijs district, has been Kindled during the last few days; first by the decision of the Levels County Council to conclude negotiations with the Highways Board to tackle the problem of providing a first-class road on the stretch of highway to the immediate liocth of Timacrt, which has evoked such strong protest from the motoring public for some time; and then the official opening of the new I’aceora Bridge, replacing a structure which has long since outlived its usefulness. The engineer of the Levels County Council reporting on the road proposal, propounded a big scheme for road improvement. The money has been made available by the Main Highways Board, and the County Council responsible for the, road policy involving the sections of the highway covered by the scheme outlined by the engineer, has had placed on its shoulders the definite responsibility to face the position. For the present, however, the Levels County Council will confine its operations to the highway north of 'l'imaru, but of course there will he no lack of demand for the better roads throughout the whole area until the requirements of the motorists who, after all, as one speaker at the official opening of the Pareora Bridge reminded the representatives of the local governing bodies, now speak with the voice of the whole community. Although the Levels County Council has decided to restrict its operations, in the meantime, to the highway on the northern side of the Borough of Timaru, still the other proposals must be kept steadily in view, since the increasing army of motorists and the more general use of the highways, particularly the main arterial road between the north and south compels action and no stretch of main road must'be allowed to stand as a reproach to the progressive spirit of the district. The opening of the new Pareora Bridge marks a distinct milestone in the development of up-to-date facili-ties-.for highway traffic. The old bridge saw the development of the district; it had carried a burden of traffic upon its sturdy limbs; and had facilitated the transport business between the north and the south. The splendid structure which replaces the old bridge is an outward symbol of the march of the times; but it is also a.reminder that rivers that are subject to floods and have a bewildering habit of changing their courses, still present a perplexing problem to highways engineers and local governing bodies. That the Main Highways Board is one of the biggest factors in the progress of the Dominion is now recognised. Mr Talbot, in his speech at the official opening of the Pareora Bridge, presented some interesting particulars of the operations of the Board and incidentally paid a fitting and timely tribute to Mr Coates, who conceived the idea of the existing highways policy and scheme of administration. Mr Talbot recounted that during the past year the total expenditure oil 10,400 miles of main highways in the Dominion had been £ii,266,000. The motorists, of course, paid a big share of this money, but some of the finance was found by the general taxpayers or the ratepayers in the shape of county or borough rates, and some from the Consolidated Fund. Within another year, the expenditure would probably reach £2,500,000. Last year, 000 miles of highways had been treated, this including 223 miles of formed or widened, 185 miles metalled, and 198 miles set down in bitumen or concrete. In the same period, nearly two miles of bridges had been constructed, of which the 000 feet of the Pareora Bridge formed a part. The Board now had in hand or contemplated work to the extent of £412,000, made up of £IBO,OOO in the South Island and £220,000 in the North Island. This does not include the Bangitata Bridge, which the Board has under consideration, and towards which they will probably pay a big share. It is quite clear that the good roads policy which lias been repeatedly advocated since the early days of motoring, is rapidly materialising under the main highways scheme, in which the user of the roads, not only pays, but also draws a rich dividend on his investments.