HIGHWAY FUNDS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19668, 11 July 1929, Page 8

HIGHWAY FUNDS.

♦ SOUTH ISLAND EXPENDITURE. MOTORISTS DISSATISFIED. The executive of the South Island Motor Union is not satisfied with the manner in which the funds of the Main Highways Board are being expended in the South Island as compared with the North Island, an at a meeting last night decided to communicate with the motorists' representative on the Board (Mr M. H. Wynyard), of Auckland), concerning the matter. Mr F. W. Freeman said that the union had not had the quarterly statement promised by the Main Highways Board concerning its expenditure and showing what the excess was over the petrol tax. It could be taken for granted that the amount was greatly in excess of what it was expected to be. There seemed to be some "back pedalling." The counties, continued Mr Freeman, had been spurred on to take up paving programmes, and he believed that while only £300,000 had been spent on such work in the South Island as much as £1,300,000 had at the same time been expended in the North Island. At the last meeting of the District Highways Council, No. 14, representing counties adjacent to Christchurch, the sum of £164,000 had been recommended for expenditure, but the amount had to be cut down to £83,000. At the same meeting it had been stated that while 2000 miles of secondary highways had been recommended previously for dedication only five miles had been so declared. "The sooner we get a South Island Main Highways Board the better," concluded Mr Freeman, "for we will then get our representative." It was decided to send the following telegram to Mr Wynyard:—"Local bodies in No. 14 District, including all counties adjacent to Christchurch, have approved of paving programme involving an expenditure over £160,000, but only £BO,OOO has been allocated by the Main Highways Board. Why? We cannot understand this after your statement in Waimate with regard to motor organisations being stimulated into activity. We have done our propaganda work. The counties are active, and their rebuff by the Board is doubly serious." On the motion of Mr J. S. Hawkes, seconded by Mr F. W. Johnston, it was also decided to communicate with Mr Wynyard, expressing the hope that the promised statement had not been overlooked. Expenditure on Back Roads. Mr W. E. Carey produced a cutting from a newspaper giving a report of a statement made some little time ago at Blenheim by the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. Mr Ransom) in which the Minister had said there was a great deal to be done for country roads and back roads, which would have to be tackled. He also stated that he had been threatened that if he interfered with the petrol tax there would be a howl from the motorists' organisations, but he did not care if there was. Mr Carey said that the matter was a serious one to motorists and should be looked into before it was tot late. Mr J. S. Hawkes said that such funds were available only for expenditure on highways. It was decided to enter an emphatic protest to the Prime Minister concerning Mr Eansom's statement.