STATE HIGHWAYS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20983, 11 March 1938, Page 8

STATE HIGHWAYS

NO MORE DECLARATIONS AT PRESENT By Telegraph —Prebs Association HAMILTON, March 10. The declaration of new main highways came up for discussion when the Waikato County Council met the Highways Board to-day. Mr A. J. Baker, deputy chairman of the Board, said that the Board had been engaged in a two years’ inspection of Dominion highways, which would conclude when the party visited Morrinsville to-morrow. The Board was unable to form any more State highways, for although the finance at its disposal was large, a good deal was devoted to maintenance purposes. With the increase of traffic it took the Board all its time to bring the highways up to the standard demanded under modern conditions. Although the Board controlled the State system of highways it was anxious that local authorities should continue to interest themselves in the matter. Their knowledge of what was required and their co-opera-tion were most valuable. Mr J. H. Sampson, county chairman, intimated that the maintenance cost of highways was increasing and the Council was in need of further finance for the upkeep of roads. “The maintenance of the highways system is the Board’s first consideration,” said Mr Baker. “We realise that increased labour costs and the extra heavy traffic contribute to the heavy maintenance costs on highways. It is the Board’s desire to see that adequate provision is made for financing the highways system.”