THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15313, 14 August 1923, Page 5

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

MEASURES IN NEW BILL.

ZJ SUPPORT FROM COUNTIES.

HONEST TRIAL SOUGHT,

Cr. Alexander reported to the Waipa County yesterday that the Minister ot Public Works, in addressing flic annual conference at Wellington on the Highways Bill, asked that the scheme he given an honest, trial. Any unforseen failings and shortcomings which might, and undoubtedly would, develop could be remedied from time to time. It was further stated by the Minister that the department would endeavour to give greater liberty to county councils to state where they wished money spent, for after all, the Minister held, they were the best judges of local conditions. The department would, however, insist on the engineers of local bodies being up-to-date in all matters of road formations, so as to ensure a uniformly good system of construction. Cr. Alexander thought the general feeling of the conference was that the department was very earnest in the matter of more lasting road construction. The conference resolved to give the scheme whole-hearted support. Smaller Group Suggested. The Waitomo County wrote to the meeting, considering that there did not exist in the group in which it was proposed to include Waitomo the comJ munity of interest necessary to ensure W the harmonious working desirable, and the council had approached the board asking If it would consider the formation of a new group consisting of counties situated between the proposed South Auckland group and the Taranaki group. Waitomo had been advised that the board would favourably consider and if possible give effect to the proposal. The counties affected were Waipa, Kawhia, Otorohanga, Waitomo and Cli'fton. It was stated that the Counties’ Conference delegates were of the opinion that much larger power should be given the district councils, in effect that they should be the operative bodies and that the Highway Board’s duties should be more of an advisory nature. According to the Minister and members of the -board it appeared very likely that this would eventuate, and in such case the advantage cf a smaller group, as proposed, would be recognised. . The chairman and Cr. Livingstone were of opinion that Waikato and Raglan should also be in the group. The meeting gave some discussion to the scheme as a whole and to the areas that should be grouped, so as to aim at the most efficient results being obtained. The chairman pointed out that tne Government was not contributing one penny to the scheme. It was a hard matter to say at the present whether the scheme would be beneficial or not. Cr. Livingstone said that one end of Waipa being in with New Plymouth would not be much good. The whole scheme was very much in the air at

j present. , , , , f Cr. Macky said that -the Minister had promised copies of the Act, but they /f had not come to hand. It seemed to him the financing of the scheme was wrong. The counties were finding all the money and the Government nothing. ■ , It was pointed out that some advantage would be conferred from the imposition of the tyre tax, but Cr. Macky retorted that Waipa would be contributing to that as well. The chairman and Cr. Livingstone did not -think the grouping was such an important matter at all. The engineer said the chairman oi the counties would have -a certain amount of say on what roads in each area were t-o come under the scheme. Finally a -committee consisting of the chairman and Crs. Macky and Livingstone was set up to meet the delegates from other adjoining counties to discuss the formation of the new group as proposed.