HIGHWAYS BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16543, 29 September 1921, Page 6

HIGHWAYS BILL.

COUNTIES’ CONFERENCE OPPOSITION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 28. The principles and general provisions of the Highways Bill were explained to the Counties’ Conference to-day by the Hon J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works. Members of the Good Road 3 Association were present. The Minister apologised for his inability, without consulting the Prime Minister, to present the actual draft. In the course of a full statement, Mr Coates emphasised certain points aa to the guiding principles of tho Bill. The chief beneficiaries would be those who wished to travel at a high speed between places. For this reason he had preferred to try to raise the money for construction and maintenance of suitable highways from taxation of vehicles designed to run at high speed. This was the alternative to special rating, which would involve close connection with local bodies. In addition to the revenue derived from taxation of tyres and motor licenses, there would be an allocation of money from the Public Works Fund. Last vear £230,000 had been spent on the main roads outlined, apart from £62,000 on road maintenance. The Minister said that the Highways Board would consist of the departmental engineer and other gentlemen, who would have control of the special fund and the work in which it was expended. He intended to bring the Bill straight before Parliament after Cabinet approval, and not leave it to a Royal Commission- Details would be left to a board, which would consist of technical and skilled engineers, with business acumen and commonsense. A certain amount of centralisation was unavoidable in any work of this kind. As Minister responsible for the policy, he would not have his efforts upset by an agitation got up in any part of the country, and the endeavour would be to leave the administration a free hand. The Minister added that the special fund would, he hoped, be about £ooo,ooo. It was proposed to take over about 2000 miles of road. The average cost of maintenance ran between £2O aitd £BO a mile. The new proposal irould allow £230 for maintenance. a ? s } ver a number of questions, tho Minister said that double license fees would not be charged. Fees came under the Motor Vehicles Act. He proposed to put the Bill before Parliament as drafted and ask Parliament to deal with it. The Highways Board would consist of the Chief ‘Engineer (Mr Furkert) and two other departmental engineers, one of whom would be specially qualified in road mattersThe other two members would be appointed by the Governor-in-Council. \\ hether they would be engineers or business men would be decided later. Constructional work such as deviations road-making and bridge-building would come out of the Public Works Fund and maintenance out of the Consolidated Fund. There would be no rebate for motorists residing in places away from main arterial roads; it would bo a straight-out tax for a straight-out purpose. The board could allow local bodies to do some of the work, could enter into contracts, and make whatever seemed the best arrangements. There was no provision in the Bill for taking over from local bodies special loans for road work completed. What actually would be the percentage of tyre tax he could not say, nor give any indication, as it was a matter for the Customs Department. Considerable discussion followed the Minister’s statement, and the following motion was carried :—“ The executive regrets that it has not had an opportunity of reading the proposed Mam Highways Bill, hut onlv a precis as published in the Press. The Minister, however, has stated that local bodies and nil interested in the tnatter can take the printed statement as a clear indication of what is proposed The executive has considered the proposals. which take awav from local authorities control of main roads and centralise authority, and express their opposition to such proposals, both on principle and experience. The executive feel that the carrying out of the proposals ns to increased subsidy as suggested hr the last conference' ’that such subsidy should be applied to roads carrying main traffic, offers a far more equitable and satisfactory solution of the reading question of the Dominion.” GOOD ROADS’ ASSOCIATION’S SUPPORT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 28. The Good Roads Conference, the members of whicli were present when the Hon J. G. Coates outlined his measure, subsequently passed the following resolution:—“That the conference welcomes the proposal to introduce legislation providing for the maintenance of arterial roads and expresses high appreciation of the efforts the Minister has already made in putting forward concrete proposals for discussion.” Tho conference convened by the Good Roads Association met to-day to consider tho Government’s proposals regarding main arterial roads. Mr M. H. Wynyard (Auckland) presided, and in an address said that road administration should be in the hands of a non-political body of specially qualified men. H© considered that the contributories to the upkeep of main roads should be the users of motor vehicles, the Crown and landed proprietors who benefited by the provision of good roads.

A resolution was passed expressing the opinion that if direct taxation were imposed by the Government local bodies should not have power by by-law or otherwise to charge license fee or other perpetual annual or recurring charges on motor vehicles except those plying for hire.

It was suggested that the dutiea and powers of arterial road boards should be to decide which roads should be main roads and what form of road was beet for particular localities, to assist local bodies with information and regulate the limit of loads on any main roads, and where advisable prohibit traffic where and when its use would endanger roade. It was decided that all new taxation on motors should be earmarked for interest and sinking fund on th© capital cost of construction or reconstruction of main arterial roads suitable for motor traffic, fend further for maintenance of permanent roads when constructed.

It was decided to recommend two boards of control, on© for each island, representation to be given to local governing bodies and motor tax payers, tyre tax revenue to be allocated to the two boards in proportion to the numbers of motor vehicles registered in the two islands.

PROGRESS LEAGUE’S EFFORTS. WELLINGTON, September 28. It has become evident tliat the Minister of Public Works in his main roads policy lias antagonised county councils and many other local bodies, who will not directly benefit from the scheme of arterial roads, consequently the main endeavour of Mr Henderson, president, and Mr Cliraie. organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, at to-day’s conference on the subject, was to find some common basis of action which would enable the Minister to carry through plans to main highways with the co-operation of local bodies. Their attitude evidently appealed to members of the Good Roads Association, for they were fortunate in getting all the Canterbury remits through, viz. : (1) That there should be two boards of control, one for the North and one for the South Island. Representation shall b© given to local governing bodies i.nd to motor organisations. (2) The tyre tax shall be allocated to the two boards in proportion to the numbers of motor vehicles registered in the two islands, all motor vehicles to be registered annually at a fee of £l, license fees to be objected to. (3) The scheme shall be carried out by the local government bodies under supervision of a Government road pertThe last motion was adopted in conjunction with a remit from the Good Roads Association that provision should bo made for local bodies when they have plant available to do the work in their districts.