Lack of roading allocation criticised

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 22

Lack of roading allocation criticised

Parliamentary reporter The Government’s failure to allocate roading funds to the National Roads Board for 1982-83 was bitterly criticised at the board’s November meeting by the Mayor of Takapuna and Chairman of the Municipal Association, Mr F. Thomas. Mr Thomas told the Minister of Works and Development (Mr W. L. Young), who is chairman of the board, that the board had a statutory function to allocate funds for roading hut was being “short-changed" by the Government. "We are being hamstrung." said Mr Thomas. "It is ludicrous to talk of the board being independent when the Government gives or withholds money at its political whim.” But Mr Young said the board was independent in the sense that, although the Government allocated the moriev. the board had the freedom to cut up its allocation without Government supervision. "I. have made representations at Cabinet level for the 1982-83 allocation, but have

not pressed it." said Mr Young. "The Government feels .that it is so close to a General Election that it would be criticised for trying to buy votes if it set a high allocation, yet it does not want to set a low allocation." Mr Thomas said it was ridiculous to cloud the issue by talking about political repercussions. The board had a statutory job to do which the Government was frustrating deliberately’. Mr Thomas also criticised the intention to consider in committee rather than in open meeting his paper on the need for tne board to borrow money instead of just reiving on allocations from the’ Government. "As well as getting Government money, the board should borrow in this time of high unemployment ... to crank up the construction industry," he said. “This is a matter of principle rather than detail at this stage, and as it concerns the public it should be discussed ooenly.”

If it were discussed in committee and reports and papers had to be prepared on it, it would be delayed unacceptably.

But Mr Thomas got no support from other board members. They expressed interest in the idea but criticised his failure to provide them with copies of his proposals before the meeting.The board then went into committee to discuss his paper.