Roads Board Urged To Help Displaced

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31099, 30 June 1966, Page 14

Roads Board Urged To Help Displaced

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 29. Mr D. J. Riddiford (Government member of Parliament for Wellington Central) tonight urged the National Roads Board to look after people “driven against their will into a friendless wilderness.”

Mr Riddiford, speaking in the Budget debate, said 356 buildings were scheduled to be demolished in the £2O million Wellington motorway project.

About 1600 people would be displaced. Mr Riddiford said the authorities had a duty to help those people who could not be expected to fend for themselves—for example the elderly, the pensioners.

All the roads board needed to do was acquire a few properties for those in real need. Probably not more than 10 additional properties would

be required, said Mr Riddiford. The board could assist with council housing, loan money and a liberal subsidy. “First things should come first,” said Mr Riddiford. “I am concerned to see the Roads Board look after the necessitous cases people driven against their will into a friendless wilderness.” There was reason to believe the board already had the

necessary powers to help those displaced by the motorway. If amendment was necessary, the legislation should be amended. The National Roads Fund, administered by the National Roads Board, was an important sphere of State expenditure, Mr Riddiford said. The board had its own sources of revenue—for example, the petrol tax went into its coffers —and had a “healthy reserve” in its hands. On the whole, the board did a good job and roads were of a good standard. Parliament was responsible for the way in which the roads board discharged its duties. Unless the board widened the scope of its thinking it ran the risk of being swept away, Mr Riddiford said. The board had done a great amount for New Zealand, but it had been unable to appreciate the problem which arose when motorways were constructed through cities.