MONEY FOR ROAD BOARD

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 12

MONEY FOR ROAD BOARD

CONSOLIDATED FUND APPROPRIATION

HOUSE MAY MAKE ANNUAL VOTE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 31. The Prime Minister (Mr Holland) •aid in the House of Representatives tonight that there was validity in the argument of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) that the £1.000,000 now permanently appropriated from the Consolidated Fund to the National Roads Board should be appropriated annually by Parliament. Mr Holland said that the Government, after consultation with motoring interests, would consider introducing legislation to do this. During discussion of the vote on the estimates for the Transport Department, Mr Nash said he saw no objection to money ear-marked for reading being held over for the same purpose, if it .were not spent within the year. The £1,000,000 from the Consolidated Fund, however, should be appropriated annually by the House. This would open for discussion the whole of the moneys held in the Roads Fund. The Minister of Transport (Mr W. S. Goosman) said he could see no fault in Mr Nash’s argument, and Mr Holland said that Mr Nash had established a valid case.

Mr Holland said that the fund, totalling £14,000.000, was made up of motoring taxation receipts. In addition, £1,000,000 was made available from the Consolidated Fund. Motoring organisations had agreed to pay an increased petrol tax on the understanding that every penny of these special taxes would be available for roading. Mr Holland said he was favourably disposed to Mr Nash's suggestion, but he would have to arrange discussions with the motoring organisations, because the Government’s agreement

stipulated that all moneys would be paid into the fund without appropriation by Parliament To have the £1,000,000 appropriated by the House, he agreed, would bring the whole topic up for discusion by Parliament '