N.R.B. Position ‘Deteriorating’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 16

N.R.B. Position ‘Deteriorating’

_ <N Z. PreSS AasMlMton) WELLINGTON, July 20. The Automobile Association said today that the National Roads Board was deteriorating into a Government agency far removed from the concept when it wm established in 1953.

The association said in a statement issued after an executive committee meeting that toe-board had one* been a model for other countries to follow. “The public in New Zealand and the Government do hot appreciate <the serioushesS of the lack Of progress in the national reading network, or the amount Of money which is going to be required to make toe roading system capable of coping with toe increasing demands of a rapidly growing national vehicle fleet," toe statement said.

In 1955 toe board's income Was $34.2m. In 1970 this had more than doubled to $78.3m, While in 1970-71 it was estimated it would be about 883 m.

“Over toe same period toe Government’s share Of motor taxation used f6r general purposes other than roading Is estimated to have increased by more than five times from

sl4lm in 1955, to $79.3m in 1970,” the Statement said. As a result of the additional 18,000 to 20,000 new cars this year the Government would receive by way of sales tax and registration and licensing fees a further s2sm or more for general purposes. “This is surely an extravagant use of additional taxation from motoring sources, and it is abundantly clear that toe National Roads Board's position has deteriorated relatively to an alarming degree,” toe statement said.

“While toe board’s revenue represented 69.8 per cent Of all motor taxation In 1955, it represent# only 49.7 per cent ID 1970—1 decline Of 20 per cent. “New Zealand’s transportation system is heavily and vitally dependent on a national roading system of welldesigned roads constructed to standards high enough to stand up for many years to an ever-increasing traffic volume. “This will not be achieved if the board** fund* continue to be restricted a* they have been since 1987, and toe

whole system is allowed to become a patchwork of roads of varying standards on which maintenance costs Will continue to rise at the expense of badly needed new construction.

“We certainly do not want to see toe demise of toe board, but if toe present shackles ate maintained and funds ate diverted to other purposes, the country will pay dearly in toe future for the present restrictions on progress and the board’s inability to programme ahead for what we and toe board Itself consider to be minimum beads.”

The association said that when a government could raise its own spending by sl34m, or 9.2 per cent, this year, after an increase of 8.9 per cent last year, and yet attach to little importance to the roading sector by to* continuation of its policy of diverting funds from the board, the time had arrived to have a iong, hard look at where the National Roads Board was heading.

“The position is bad enough now,” the statement said. “The Minister of Transport has stated that the Carter Committee’* report has not been ’lost sight of,' but if the Government accepts the committee’s recommendations, or any other proposal for further diversions and imposts by way of petrol tax, then the board’s ability to carry out its task* will be so adversely affected that it might just as Well become a division of the Ministry of Works, and we will be back to the position Where roading development is subject to direct political and parochial pressure*. “We urge the Government to make an urgent and much closer study Of toe board’s needs now, and to allocate to it without delay toe funds needed to get toe reading programme properly under way again.”