“More Equitable” Share Sought For S.I.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30115, 26 April 1963, Page 14

“More Equitable” Share Sought For S.I.

More equitable allocation of National Roads Board funds between the North and South Islands is sought by the No 14 District Roads Council It decided at a meeting on Wedi esday that the chairman of the National Roads Board (Mr Goosman) be told the council was concerned at the disparity between amounts allotted to the north and south

“There has finally been an ‘admission that more money has been spent in the Norin than in the South Island." said Cr T D Flint “For years we have claimed this and it has been denied “The South Island has been subsidising the North Island." he said. "I am no engineer, but the standard of projects up there is lower than in the South Island Their roads are often poorly constructed I have seen seal being laid on road surfaces in the North Island which would not be considered ready for seeling

here,” Cr Flint said Much of the money used in such work should have been spent in the South Island “We are New Zealanders, not North or South Islanders,” said the chairman of the Waimairi County Council (Mr J I. Colligan) opposing the motion

An approach to the National Roads Board pressing tor the allocation of funds on a population or vehicle basis could, in the long run. result in less money for the South Island. he said More advanced planning in the North Island had been the reason why most money had been spent there to date With th a completion of the master transport plan, this situation could be reversed There was a likelihood that under the master scheme the South Island could, for some time, receive more money than the North Island, said Mr Colligan The situation would not be rectified if the South Island did not keep pushing, said Cr Flint ' The motion was carried on the voices The Government committee currently investigating the roeding needs of districts throughout the country will be asked by the council to study the No 14 district before the half-yearly review of expenditure, so that allocations to this district after the review could be influenced by the findings of the committee

At present he thought the committee was operating in the Waikato and he was not certain if it would be in the South Island this year said the chairman 'Mr E C Smart) in answer to a question before the request to hasten the investigation was moved by Mr N E Kirk member for Lyttelton

Appreciation of the work done for the council by its chairman Mr Smart who will retire in a few weeks, was expressed by a member of the executive Mr J E Burrell Messrs Horrell and W P Glue were re-elected local bodies' representative* on the executive and Mr R C Neville war re-elected the road users' representative