MAIN HIGHWAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19057, 9 July 1924, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS

DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETS. VARIOUS MATTERS DISCUSSED A meeting of the No. 8 District Highways Council was held yesterday. Present: Messrs T. M. Ball (chairman), W. Morrison (Waitotara), W. Gibbs (Patea), A. G. Simpson and Doull (Rangitikei), P. Murray (Waimarino), A. D. Mackintosh (Wanganui). ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr T. M. Ball was re-elected chairman of the council. PROPOSED BY-LAWS. The convener, Mr G. Darbyshire, clerk of the Wanganui County Council, reported that a meeting of the local bodies’ executive officers had not yet been held to discuss by-laws, as they wei/j waiting for a copy of the Motor Vehicles Bill. The motor people were greatly concerned about prospective taxation, and were going to contest the position. Mr Morrison said that the council could make a recommendation as to whether there should be a group tax or not. The Motor Vehicles Bill was promised to the county councils’ executive three months ago, but they had not seen it yet. He understood that it was to come before a Parliamentary committee. Until something was done they could not make any by-laws. Mr Gibbs suggested that the county councils should be consulted. He took it that the county councils’ executive would make some recommendations. At present there was no power to collect taxes. It was decided that the meeting should be deferred until a copy of the Motor Vehicles Bill was available. Mr Darbyshire said if they had to wait as long for this Bill as some of the other Bills they would never have a meeting at all. POSITION OF TOWN BOARDS. The question of the method of carrying out work on main highways passing through town board areas was discussed. Mr Richardson, clerk of the Rangitikei County Council said that the Act had overlooked 'the fact that there were two kinds of town districts, such as Lethbridge which was part of a county, and others that might be classed as small boroughs. The legislature was not fully seized of the position. Arrangements could be made for doing the work but there was also the question of footpaths and watertables. Mr Gibbs said that the board only wanted a n 18ft road through a town board area and had no intention of interfering with paths and watertables. The councils could do the work at a town board’s request. The chairman said that town boards had no representation and any recommendations should be made through the councils. There was one serious defect in the Act as provision was not made for local bodies to borrow money. It was proposed to rectify that. Mr Gibbs said that he was afraid that the Act would break down in the end. Mr Morrison said that the county councils’ executive wanted the Government to raise the whole of the money. CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS. Mr Gibbs said that Patea Council proposed to complete a 12ft wide main road through the county, which he considered was better than a portion of 18ft road and the rest in potholes. The chairman considered it would be better to proceed with an 18ft road from the outset. Mr Morrison said they had previously carried a resolution in regard to standard work and the penetration method. He had now been in formed that there were other methods —the Hutt Road was a case in point —and if there was a better method it should be considered. The chairman said that the whole thing was a question of cost, and the board could consider methods of construction. The first thing to do was improve the present surfaces. Mr Morrison said there was a company in Wanganui prepared to put down good roads. The chairman said if they could put down a road at £4OOO a mile better than a penetration road it could be considered. He added that it was n o good putting down a road that would be too far in advance of the times.