MAIN HIGHWAYS FUNDS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26847, 27 September 1952, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS FUNDS

BIGGER ALLOCATION THIS YEAR

STATEMENT TO S.I.M.U. CONFERENCE

Main Highways Board funds allocated for maintenance last year had been overspent by £400,000, but the board had been within its allocation on construction, said Mr M. H. Wynyard at the annual conference of the South Island Motor Union in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Wynyard is the union’s representative on. the Main Highways- Board. A highways rate considerably in excess of last year’s had been obtained this year, Mr Wynyard said. The conference went into committee while Mr Wynyard supplied the figures. Heavy traffic had increased rapidly, and the roads had “taken a hammering” which had caused many failures, Mr Wynyard said. “Generally, however. there is little room for complaint about the condition of our highways, the dry winter having helped a lot,” he said.

Bridging was one of the difficulties being experienced throughout the country, Mr Wynyard said. Things were improving as tenders were being let. A year ago, there had been no inquiries at all from contractors. There was still a lot of leeway to make up, however, Mr Wynyard said. Probably some works in view would have to be postponed, but it was fairly certain that all the funds allocated to the Highways Board would be spent.