Reassurance on road subsidies

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32720, 24 September 1971, Page 10

Reassurance on road subsidies

The possible effects of amalgamation on reading works that were a major question for a small county, but would be minor affairs in a bigger grouping, was raised When the Mount Herbert County Council met the National Roads Board yesterday.

Cr R. M. Goop referred to the Local Government Commission proposals for North Canterbury amalgamation and asked what would be the position for Mount Herbert, a small county getting good subsidies from the board, if it wms forced to “We are getting $S for $1 on the Purau-Port Levy Road,” he said. “That is a big job for us, It would be- , some a minor one with amalgamation, Will this sub- ' sidy continue?” ! Vis higWy likely that it would,” sa»d the Director of ! Reading (Mr F, A. Lang--5 bain), “The board looks at ; things nationally, it doesn’t matter whether a job is large : or small. Priorities come first.*' Other board members also gave reassuring answers. ' “The $64 question is with ’ whom do you amalgamate," I Mid the board’s deputy--1 chairman (Mr U. p. Merritt). I “Our hands art tied until we know," said the county * chairman (Mr E. R. Radr eiiffe). “We wont know until we see how all or parts of

the county go. We might have only one representative on the new council,"

A board member. Mr H. c. Kennedy said common sense would prevail and he was auro the Ministry of Worka would watch the county’s terestssScale and Size had nothing to do with priorities and the board was interested in even the smallest problems, said the Assistant commissioner of Works (Administration). Mr J. N. L. Searle.