SUBSIDIES FOR ROADS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 65, 18 March 1925, Page 7

SUBSIDIES FOR ROADS.

» DEPENDENT ON MAINTENANCE. I WARNING TO COUNTY COUNCILS. Subsidies on road metalling works will not in future be granted by the Public Works Department unless county councils give an assurance that the roads in question will be adequately maintained The Department, through the Undersecretary, Mr. F. W. Furkert, points out that while some maintenance is well done, it can be definitely stated that quite a considerable portion of metalling work subsidised by the Department has been wholly neglected and a further considerable portion inadequately main- | tamed. In future, proposals for Governments grants or subsidies on road works i will not be approved or authority issued unless it appears that sufficient funds are likely to be available annually for the maintenance of such works. County councils will be asked to state (1) the average annual expenditure for the last five years on maintenance per mile of metalled roads in the riding in which the proposed work is situated, and (2) the amount the council anticipates being able to set aside annually per mile Jor the maintenance of the proposed work. The Department contends that its duty is to safeguard the value of the State'*s investment in the roading systems involved.