DAMAGED ROADS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19942, 31 May 1930, Page 14

DAMAGED ROADS.

restoring position on WEST COAST. SOUTH ISLAND FUNDS USED. Despite the promise made that the work of restoring tho damage done to the West Coast roads by the earthquake would not be a charge purely against the Main Highways Fund, and that a grant would be made from the Consolidated Fund to reduce the burden, it appears that th<* Government is not now going to provide any such grant. Enquiries made by a representative of The Pres9 yesterday elicited the information from an authoritative source that the restoration work so far carried out had been paid for out of the South Island Revenue Account of the Highways Fund. The informant added that as the work had been financed up to its present stage as he had indicated, it was more than likely < that it would be completed on such a basis. Mr Ansell's View. When the matter was mentioned to the president of the South Island Motor Union (Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P.), who was in Christchurch yseterday, he stated that at the quarterly meeting of the Union in Dunedin, on December 6th, of last year, he had referred to the statement made some time previously that the Highways Fund was to bear the whole expense of reconditioning the West Coast roads. The cost of restoration was then estimated at from £250,000 to £500,000, which figures were regarded by motorists with some concern. A resolution protesting against this drain on the Fund had been passed at the previous meeting of the. Union. Mr Anseli told the meeting that he bad discussed the matter with the Minister tor .Public Works (Hon. E. A. Hansom) during the Parliamentary session, and had Had a question ready to ask in the House. The Minister nad asked Mr Ansell to defer the matter in order that he might discuss it with Cabinet. Mr Anseii had complied with the request and he had since been notified by Mr Ransom that Cabinet had decided to bear a proportion of the cost, the actual amount, however, not having been decided upon. The meeting resolved to send a letter to the Minister thanking him for his assurance that the Government wonld bear a proportion of the cost, and urging that in view of the national importance of the road the grant be a substantial one.

Breach of Faith Alleged.

It is a breach of faith on the part of the Government was the comtnent of the president of the Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr F. W. Freeman) when told of the position. The South Island had been promised a Highways Board of its own, he con- ' tinned, but a sort of political red* herrin" had been drawn across the. trail in the shape of the Transport Bill, the effect of which had been t*> give the proposed new. Board .a definite set back. The " Bill contained many features which were objection-, able to motorists. While the majority of the people or the Dominion regarded the work of restoration of the West Coast roads i as a national matter, the Government had taken up the attitude that the iob should be borne by the boutb, Tsland motorists alone -The .Government seemed to regard the motorist as a milch cow. and to" think that there was no limit to what he could produce. Mr Freeman blamed the South' [slnnd counties for _ not : having applied earlier than they did for Bnb~id?es from the Main Highways Board to enable the construction of payed roads to be gone on with at a similar rate to that in the North Inland. South Tsland local bodies were clawonHn? for money from the Highwavß Fund now. but unfortunntelv could *not eet ?t "We cannot do the West Coast roads." said # Mr Freeman in conclusion "but it is erossl" unfair not t.n do the worlf of restoration on a nat'onal ha«is when were eiven an understanding that this was to be *he position." '