LAND PURCHASE TO PROTECT ROUTES

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31669, 3 May 1968, Page 20

LAND PURCHASE TO PROTECT ROUTES

(New Zealand Press Association; ROTORUA, May 2. Local bodies would buy land for highway routes through their areas and later be reimbursed at market rates by the National Roads Board under a new plan of the board, Mr J. H. Macky, director of reading, announced in Rotorua today.

Speaking to the Municipal Association conference he told delegates that the aim of the new scheme, approved by the Audit Department two days ago, was to protect planned routes.

He told' questioners the plan would apply only to routes with N.R.B. approval Local authorities should also consult their district commissioners of works before buying land.

He said he thought the reimbursement scheme would also apply to land already owned by local authorities.

But he said the board would not provide payments for the land before the routes were placed on the board's work programme. He pointed out that local authorities could raise loans but the board could not. Unspent Funds Emphasising the importance of particular routes, Mr Macky said, however, that local bodies should not buy more land than necessary. Mr Macky was also today

critical of the municipalities which did not advise the board of surpluses earlier in the year. He said it was over to those local authorities themselves—if they had funds which they could not spend—to let the N.R.B. know during the financial year so that the money could be allocated elsewhere.