Roads Board backs funds allocation

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 10

Roads Board backs funds allocation

i Parliamentary reporter ; A special meeting of the ; National Roads Board at Dargaville has confirmed its confidence in the non-politi-cal nature of the distribution of $3.2 million in reading funds announced by the Minister of Works (Mr W. L. Young) last week. The announcement drew the charge of ‘‘political bribery” from a board member, the Mayor of Takapuna (Mr A. F. Thomas) and led to a rebuttal by Mr Young, while other board members] dissociated themselves from; Mr Thomas’s views. After the Dargaville meet-, ing. Mr Young said he had' been asked by board mem-’ bers to hold the meeting. i

Mr Thomas had reaffirmed > his earlier statement in t which he withdrew his re--5 marks concerning political - patronage and had apologised i to Mr Young and to the board

5 The board had accepter - unanimously the statement ■ from the Director of Reading, Mr F. R. Langbein, that > the funds for improving [ rural roads had been allo- - cated because of requests i submitted by county cuuni cils and recommended -for , board approval by district ;| roads councils, Mr Young (said. The allocation of funds for] ” development had also been: .•supported by the board iwithout reservation.