STATE HIGHWAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 10

STATE HIGHWAYS

GOVERNMENT POLICY MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT RELIEVING LOCAL BODIES [ Per Press Association. | WELLINGTON, June 12. The proposals of the Government to take over 4146 miles of arterial roads throughout the Dominion and to be responsible through the Main Highways Board for their construction and maintenance were explained in detail to day by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Robert Semple. The Minister made it clear that .not all the main highways listed as such are to be taken over, but only those highways which are regarded as the principal lines of road communication. These in future will be clasisfied as Mate high- I ways. Mr. Semple said experience had ; shown that important reconstruction or ■ improvements on arterial highways had | had to be deferred in some cases for . many years, principally because of the I reluctance of particular local authui - ity to finance its quota. The value of arterial highways from the transport viewpoint and to the public welfare could only be measured by the ability of these routes to cater at ail times for all needs. The backbone of the Dominion’s road transport was undoubt edly its trunk highway system, and the country’s interests would be bettei served by the .State accepting response bility for the necessary improvement and proper upkeep of its arterial road' than by the multiplicity of control which now existed. The intention of proposed legislation was, firstly, to ensure that the principal lines of road communication would be administered directly by a central authority having Dominion-wide jurisdiction, and for that purpose the Main Highways Board would be entrusted with the control ot State highways. Secondly, the pro posed legislation would give financial relief to local authorities by the extent to which thev would ordinarily contribute to the arterial highways. These savings to local bodies would be in the nature of increased financial aid to the reading authorities affected, and would enabled them to aplpy their funds to j ordinary country highways and rural j roads, with a consequent advantage tu ■ the outlying districts. It was not proposed to transfer to the State the re ' sponsibility for antecedent liabilities, and the idea was that trom the date on j which an arterial highway was class:- . tied as a highway the full cost ; of construction and maintenance would ( be met from the Highways Funds. Where a work had already been com pleted no allowance would be made to the local authority concerned for its share of expenditure, but where a work was still in hand at the time of classification an apportionment would be made under which the local body would pay its contribution only up to the date on which the Mate highway was taken over. In accordance with the Government s policy that the people’s representatives should be responsible for public expenditure, the activities of the board in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of main highways were to be subject tu Ministerial consent before a start was made. This does not mean ’ approval of every detailed '‘work but rather that the general programme to be undertaken from time io time should be carried out with the knowledge and consent of the Minister. Until the legislation was passed and the State highways system becomes an accomplished fact the local authorities now in charge of the highways tentatively nominated would retain control, and the question of maintenance would be a matier tor the individual authui ' iries affected, ft was to be hoped that the local bodies would not neglect the highways in anticipation ui future maintenance being burne by the .'Stale. He was c infident that the co-operation manifested in the past would continue until the full scheme was brought into operation. The schedule of arterial highways which have been tentatively selected to form the State highways system was announced by the Minister as follows, the figures showing that approximately 23(0 miles of road are in the North Island and 1800 in the South Island: — Kaitaia to Whangarei, \ ia Ohaeawai and Dargaville, 1“4 miles. Whangarei to Dargaville, 39 miles. Whangarei to Maungaturoto, via Waipu, 41 miles. Dargaville to Maungaturoto. 42 miles. Auckland to Helensv ille, 38 miles. Auckland to Maungaturoto, 75 miles. Auckland to Wellington, via New Plymouth, 469 miles. I’okeno to Whukatane, via Ngatea »nd Tauranga, 165 miles. Hamilton to Paeroa, 47 miles. Hamilton to Whakatane, via Rotorua, 126 i-iiles. Gisborne to Whakatane, via Wai oeka, 136 miles. Rotorua to Napier, via Taupo, 160 miles. Napier to iGsburne. 116 miles. Gisborne to Ruatoria, 82 miles. New Plymouth to Hawera, via unake, 67 miles. Te Kuiti to Bulls, via 1 aumarunui, 204 miles. Wanganui tu Horopito, via Parapara, 67 miles. Napier tv Wellington, via Wairarapa, 213 miles. National Park to Taupo. 67 miles. Levin to Palmerston North, via Makerua, 30 miles. Sanson to Palmerston North, 15 miles. Palmerston North to Woodville, 17 miles. Picion to Bluff, via Kangitata, blu wiles. Blenheim to Nelson, < < miles. Nelson to Westport, 142 miles. Richmond to Collingwood, 78 »”des. Inangahua Junction to Weheka, 213 miles. _ Christchurch to Kumara fetation, flu miles. . Timaru to Cromwell, via 1 arras, .*) mites. Lumsden to Queenstown, miles Clarksville tu Queenstown, 146 miles. Gore to Lumsden, 40 miles. Invercargill to miles. NEGLECT PILES. Neglected piles are dangerous. •’Zarin” is easily applied. Immediate relief. Niuepence brings you generous trial. Zaun Proprietary, Box 952 N. Wellington.—Advt,