EXPENDITURE ON HIGHWAYS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 16

EXPENDITURE ON HIGHWAYS

CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT POLICY SOUGHT MEETING OF WAIMAIRI COUNTY COUNCIL Although the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) has advised that the Government cannot refund any expenditure incurred by local authorities in constructing highways before they were taken over by the State, the Waimairi County Council has decided to make further representations, in the hope that the Government’s policy may be changed. Reporting to the Waimairi County Council last night on the Minister’s statement, the works committee said that a conference had been held between representatives of the council and Messrs H. S. S. Kyle and C. Morgan Williams, members of Parliament. The council’s views about the reimbursement of the cost of construction of highways before they were taken over, by the State had been placed before Messrs Kyle and Williams, and they had promised to convey the council’s views to the Government. The report was approved. There • were present at the meeting of the council last night Crs. F. S. Scott (chairman), J. Liggins, G. Cracroft Wilson, J. Halligan, W. P. Spencer, W. G. Chapman, C.' W. Moore, H. Kitson, W. J. Walter, and C. E. Cross. Plans for Sealing The completion of the sealing of Russley road is to be considered at a conference of representatives of the Waimairi County Council and the Paparua County Council, according to a clause in the works committee’s report. This stated that the work would cost about £ISOO, and the Paparua County had been asked to appoint representatives to discuss with Waimairi representatives the proposal t« Complete the sealing of the road. After representations by a deputation which waited on the council at its previous meeting, the council decided that the sealing of Clyde road, between Fendalton road and the Waimairi stream, be widened to 30 feet.

Reporting on the finances of the electricity department, the electricity committee stated that at March 31, 1938, cash at the bank amounted to £21,702. After allowing ■ for bad debts, £IO2B was owing to the council and £3526 was owing to various creditors. With £19,906 placed in the renewal reserve, there was a cash deficit of £702. There was an excess of assets over liabilities of £38,251.