No rush into roading shift

Press, 2 March 1977, Page 12

No rush into roading shift

PA Wellington Local authorities throughout New Zealand are generally reacting cautiously to a National Roads Board suggestion that the system of subsidising roading maintenance and construction be changed.

About a third of the 21 district roads councils have considered the suggestion, so far . According to the assitant director of roading with the Ministry of Works (Mr Ron Fisher), rural authorities in most cases have reacted favourably, while metropolitan authorities are “holding back with some caution.” He said the caution seemed to stem from the slightly different make-up of roading programmes in metropolitan areas, and

becuase “people are wary of change until they know the details.” The board proposal would change the often complicated subsidy sys t em — with the exact subsidy ratio varying greatly with different types of work — to a percentage cost-sharing scheme, to be negotiated between the board and local authorities for each programme.

It was produced as a discussion document for district roads councils, and their views will be considered by the board at its meeting in March.

The only outright rejection of the proposal so far has come from the No. 2A District Roads Council (Auckland). At its meeting last week, this council rejected it on a 6-5 vote, and asked that it be investigated further.