Want 76 Miles of Roads in Permanent Paving Within Seven Years.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18452, 1 May 1928, Page 5

Want 76 Miles of Roads in Permanent Paving Within Seven Years.

LOCAL BODIES PRESENT REPORT TO-DAY TO MAIN HIGHWAYS BOARD.

URGING immediate construction in high-class permanent pavement of twenty-three miles of roads in the district from the Conway River to the Rangitata, at a cost of about £SOOO a mile, representatives of County Councils and motorists waited upon the Main Highways Board this afternoon. The proposals, which embraced also the construction of fifty-three and a half miles of high-class paving within seven years, were embodied in a report which had been drawn up and approved by the local bodies and motoring organisations concerned. The final report was left in the hands of a committee.

Cost of the roading programme was let down at about £380,000. and conItruction of new bridges at £219.000, making a grand total of £599,000. Seven bridges were for immediate construction. one was within five years, and four large ones and ten small ones were mapped out in a ten-years’ programme of construction. Steads Recommended. The following highways were recommended to the board for inclusion in the paving programme: Christchurch-Blenheim—For ini mediate construction: (1) Christchurch city boundary to Nortlieote Road (70 chains), (2) Styx River to Woodend (11 miles 50 chains); for construction within seven •years: Woodend to road junction beyond Saltwater Creek (5 miles). Woodend-Rangiora Within seven years: "Woodend-Rangiora (4 miles). Kaiapoi-Waddington, via Rangiora— Within seven years: Rangriora-Fernside <3 miles). Rangiora-Oxford. via Loburn—Within seven years: Rangiora-Ashley' Bank Junction (24 miles). Christchuroh-Dunedin Sockburn to Templeton (4 miles): within seven years: Templeton-Dunsandel (16 miles). Fairficld-Tinwald (6- miles). Upper Riccarton-Arthur's Pass—lmmediate: Upper Riccarton-Russley Road (2 miles): within seven years: Russ ley Road towards West Melton (5 miles). Sockburn-Southbridge Within seven years: Holmes's Corner to Prebbleton (34 miles). Christchurch- Akaroa Christchurch city boundary to Halswell Store (2 miles 60 chains); within seven rears: Halswell Store to Tai Tapu (74 miles). Christchurch-New Brighton (Pages Road)—lmmediate: Christchurch city boundary to New Brighton Bridge (1 mile 60 chains). Christchurch-Lyttelton, via Sumner — Within seven wars: Heathcote Bridge to Maffej'’s Corner (1 mile 15 chains). Existing high-class pavement was listed as follows. —Christchurch-Blcn-lieim-Northcote Road to Styx River (1 ■mile). Christchurch-Dunedin-Riccarton Borough boundary to Sockburn (2* miles). Upper Riccarton-Arthur’s PassUpper Riccarton (i mile). Total 3i miles. Bridges Asked For. Bridges recommended for inclusion in the construction programme were as follow: — Christchurch-Blenheim highway—lmmediate—Hurunui; approximate estimate of cost £17.000. Ashley; cost £20.000. Within ten years—Kowai; cost £SOOO. Christchurch-Dunedin —Immediate — Ashburton; cost £30,000. Within ten years—Rangitata; cost £IOO,OOO. Darfield-Arundel wyn; cost £4OOO. Within five years—•Rakaia (flood channel) ; cost £SOOO. Within ten years—Hawkins; cost £SOOO. Kaiapoi-Waddington Skew: cost £IOOO. Waipara-Kaikoura, via Culverden— Immediate —Conway; cost £6OOO. Upper Riccarton-Arthur’s Pass— Within ten years—Waimakariri; cost £IO.OOO. Ten small bridges; cost £12,000. The proposed bridges over the Conwav, Mason, and Waimakariri rivers were stated to be in connection with Government roads.

on March 31 (estimated to amount to £57,600): (l>) 92 per cent to the Highways Board's revenue fund (estimated to amount, to £662,400).

“The board proposes to allocate its additional revenue. estimated at £662,400, as follows: (a) Subsidies for maintenance of 3000 miles additional secondary roads at estimated rate of £6O per mile, say £IBO,OOO. (b) Subsidy at rate of £3 for £1 to roads in the vicinity of cities, and for bridges, about £1S().000. (c) Subsidy to boroughs under 6000, amounting to from 3 per cent to 8 per cent of the revenue, for roads that are continuations of main highways, say £30,000. (d) Provision for sinking fund on loan indebtedness previously incurred, £90,000 per annum. , (e) Balance to he allotted for additional maintenance on primary roads, say £182,400. “With this policy the committee concurs in the main, but makes the following comments:— (1) The rate at which the board makes subsidies should be a steadily increasing one. Whereas the income of the board derived from taxation of the motoring public increases approximately in proportion to motor vehicle registrations, the income of local bodies cannot be expected to increase more rapidly than the growth of population. (2) The board should publish separate revenue and construction accounts for the North and South Islands. This would not only avoid misunderstandings, but would facilitate the projection of a progressive programme. Funds said to be Available. “The board should now have available for maintenance, outside of cities and boroughs— On primary roads: From petrol tax £IBO,OOO. from other revenue £450,000. Total £630,000. On secondary roads £IBO,OOO. Total primary and secondary roads £BIO,OOO. “Since South Island income for maintenance is 38 per cent of the total income, this district covered by this report should have available about 92 per cent of the total. On this assumption the following allocation for ordinary maintenance is arrived at: (a) For the following allocation for ordinary primary roads, 92 per cent of £630,000, £61,425. (b) For secondary roads, 92 per cent of £IBO,OOO, £17,550; total, £7B, 975. “For maintenance or construction of roads in cities, and for construction of roads in boroughs that are continuations of main highways, there should be available:— (a) For cities and boroughs over 6000 £57,600. (b) For boroughs under 6000 £30,000. Total. £87.600. “North Canterbury’s share of the allotments for maintenance of roads that are continuations of main highways within cities and boroughs should be (a) For Christchurch, 14 per cent of £5(,600, say £BOOO. (b) For distribution among the following boroughs—Ashburton, Akaroa, Rangiora, Lyttelton, New Brighton, Riccarton, Kaiapoi and Sumner—l 3 per cent of £30,000, say £3,900. Amounts for Construction. “For construction of high-class pavements in the vicinity of cities, and for bridges, the board should have available. apart from Public Works grants: Loans (under Highways Act, 1922) £300.000. Petrol Tax £ISO.OOO. Total £480,000. “Our district’s share should probably be one-seventh, but let us say at least one-eighth, namely, £60.000. “For bridges the board should have available, in addition to amounts from loans and the petrol tax, a certain proportion of the annual Public Works grant of £200.000, say £40,000. This district is entitled to claim some of this for essential bridge construction. “The facts are that the city, and boroughs under 6,000, should now obtain assistance for the maintenance of roads that are continuations of main highways to the extent of: Christchurch, say £470 per mile. Boroughs, say £240 per mile. “In submitting this report to the board as a fully considered, constructive and progressive highways policy for the district covered, approved by both county councils and motorists, it is hoped that the board will give the report its fullest consideration, and will, as far as possible, endorse it. and provide every facility to put its recommendations into early operation.” Work of Committee. The committee which presented the report was set up as the result of a conference called by the Canterbury Progress League on June 29. 1927. A traffic census was taken at key points in the district, such census forming the basiS of the report, which later was endorsed by the Council of the Canterbury Automobile Association, the executive of the Progress League, and the recent conference of delegates appointed by county councils. The conference referred the report back to the committee, in the light of fresh information received, and the committee was empowered to alter the report accordingly. The revised report was presented to-day. Following is the personnel of the committee: Mr J. E. vStraclian (President, Canterbury Progress League) Professor A. H. Tocker (Chair of EcW omics, f anterbury College), Messrs B Falck (president. Canterburv Automobile Association), F. W. Freeman (vice-president, Canterburv Automobile Association), W. K. M’Alpine (chairman. Tawera County Council), John Cunningham (chairman, Ellesmere County Council), T. Thompson (chairman, Wairewa Countv Council) W T Walter (member, Waimairi County ( ouncil), Geo. Maginness (engineer Paparua County Council), W. T. Lindsay (engineer. Waipara County Council), A. A. Fooks (engineer, Ashburton County. Council), Godfrey Hall (member Selwyn County Council), R. O. Dixon (member, Eyre Countv Council) H Neale (engineer, Springs County Council) and P. R. Climie (.secretary, Canterbury Progress League). (Proceeding).

Rates of Subsidies. “ Taking into consideration the Highways Board’s financial position, the large sums now being found by the motorists, the obvious disability-of local bodies to increase appreciably their expenditure upon roads, the universal demand for better roads, and the immediate necessity of prosecuting a vigorous forward policy of road improvement,” stated the report. ” the committee is firmly of opinion that the board should pay subsidies on the following basis:— (a) Construction of high-class pavements in the vicinity of cities, £3 for £l. (b) Construction of bridges, £3 for £l. (c) Other construction work, regrading, etc., £3 for £l. (d) Deviations and eliminations of railway crossings, £4 for £l. (e) Maintenance of primary roads, £2 10s for £l. (f) Maintenance of secondary roads, £2 for £l. Policy for the District. ” The committee is of opinion that all roads should be either of high-class pavement, constructed at a cost of approximately £SOOO per mile, or of wellmaintained gravel. After exhaustive inquiries, and taking into consideration the problem raised by traction engine traffic, the committee does not favour other forms of road as a general policy for Canterbury. “ There may, of course, be exceptions. For example, it is obvious that there i< room for considerable experimentation towards abating the dust nuisance. Where experiments of this character have the approval of the board, the committee is of opinion that the board should be prepared to subsidise local bodies on a specially liberal scale for that purpose. Annnal Coats. '' The committee recommends:— (a) Progressive policy of ronstrurtion r>f high-class pavements, amounting to not less than ten miles per annum— Annua? cost. 10 miles at £SOOO 50.000 bocal Bodies’ share, quarter . . 12^500 Highways Hoard’s share, threequarters 37.500 <b) Reconstruction of bridges— Annual cost 20,000 bocal Bodies’ share, quarter . . 5,000 Highways Board's share, threequarters . . 15,000 (c) Other construction work, regrading, etc.— Annual cost 1,000 bocal Bodies’ share, quarter . . 250 Highways Board’s share, threequarters 750 fd) deviations and eliminations of railway crossings— Annual cost 7.500 T.oeal Bodies’ share, one-fifth 1,500 Highways Board's share, fourfifths 6.000 <e> Maintenance of primary roads—pay 604 miles at an average annual rate of £l2O per mile .. R 3.300 bocal Bodies’ share, twosevenths 23,300 Highways Board’s share, fivesevenths 50.500 ff) Maintenance of secondary roads— Pav 350 miles at an average annual rate of £6O per mile .. 21.000 T.ocal Bodies’ share, on*-third . . 7.000 Highways Board's share, twothirds 14,000 Board's Ability to Fay. "The tax of 4d per gallon authorised l,v Statute .is estimated to produce a revenue of £720,000 in 1928. "By statutory provision the amount is divided into two parts, as follows: <a) S per cent to cities and boroughs of in proportion t,® population