Road Vehicles In N.Z. May Total 1,100,000 By 1970

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29145, 4 March 1960, Page 16

Road Vehicles In N.Z. May Total 1,100,000 By 1970

(Neio Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 2. By 1970 the number of road vehicles in use in New Zealand may reach I.lm, one to every 2.5 persons, an increase of 78 per cent, on the 1958 figure. This is said by the Municipal Association's representative on the National Roads .Board (Mr G. A. Harris) in a report which will be considered by delegates to the annual conference of the association in Wellington. At September 30 last year there were 778.046 vehicles registered in the Dominion, one vehicle for every three persons. Roads and streets throughout the country represented a capital investment of about £soom, and were costing about £2Bm annually to maintain and improve. “Sound Reading Vital’’ “The Roads Board is convinced that with the vast changes taking place in the world of transport, a sound roading system is a vital part of the foundation on which our national development must be based.” Mr Harris says. The Minister of Works (Mr Watt), as chairman of the board, deserved commendation for rewriting the National Roads Amendment Bill to meet the legitimate criticism it had met from local authorities all over New Zealand. The two principal amendments comprised a radical departure from the 1953 act. On the new' basis counties

would receive a total of £5.340.000. against £6.423.500 under the old act, and municipalities £2,670,000. as against £2.026,500. After reviewing the major problems facing the board, Mr Harris says that everything is being done, with the finance available, to give relief from irksome traffic conditions where the need is greatest. Board's Finances The board's financial year ended with a cash balance of £1.791.650. Income for the year amounted to £21.505.078, making £23.296.728 available for expenditure during the 12 months. Expenditure amounted to £20.944.276, leaving a surplus of £2.352.452. Petrol tax provided £14.500.703 (67.42 per cent., a decrease of 0 65 per cent, compared with the previous year), and licences and fees produced 22.79 per cent. The payment of rate subsidies to county councils, and subsidies on population to cities and boroughs amounted to £4,095.824. Payments to counties exceeded the statutory limit of 12 per cent, by £134.227, and recovery of this amount w’ill be made from payments in the succeeding year. Cashmere Sections for Sale. — About 12 building sections, four in Stanbury avenue,: Cashmere, and the others on land between Barrington street and Lyttelton street, will be offered for sale in two or three weeks’ time by the Lands and Survey Department.