WHO WILL PAY?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 205, 31 August 1933, Page 9

WHO WILL PAY?

DRIVE.

LOCAL BODIES' ATTITUDE.

FINANCE THE OBSTACLE.

In reply to representations made to the Unemployment Board for the construction of a road along the top of the Waitakere Ranges, Mr. G. C. Godfrey, Commissioner of Unemployment, wrote to the Auckland Chamber eof Commerce as follows:—

"Although the Auckland local bodies, including the Auckland City Council, have advocated this work being carried out by the Public Works Department, they state they are unable to contribute toward the cost and suggest that tho project he financed by the Unemployment Board with assistance from the Public Works Department. "The Auckland City Council has also intimated that it would be unable to contribute toward maintenance of the road when constructed, and tho Waitemata County Council states definitely that even though the proposed road runs through the county it would be unable to maintain the road were it formed and metalled.

"Various suggestions have been put forward for the financing of this work, none of which, however, is considered practicable, and as it is estimated that, over and above the labour cost which might be provided by the Unemployment Board, the completion of this work would involve an expenditure of approximately £16,000, it will be realised that the question of finance is a major one. The Public Works Department is not prepared to devote any of its limited funds to this work, which cannot be considered an urgent one, and the Main Highways Board is unable to agree to this road being declared a highway before it has been constructed. 'In these circumstances it cannot bo expected that funds would be available from tho main highways construction fund. It is therefore proposed that this work stand over in the meantime. Morningside TunneL "In regard to the Morningside railway tunnel proposal, this is more a matter for the Railways Board, but from the information which the board has available, it is not considered a suitable work for the absorption of ordinary -unemployed relief labour." The letter was referred to a special committee set up to consider expenditure m public works.