MAIN HIGHWAYS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 256, 28 July 1927, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS

REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE CREDIT BALANCE NEARLY EXTINGUISHED Tentative figures in connection with the annual estimates, submitted at the monthly meeting of the Main Highways Board, indicate that a considerable reduction will have to be made in the amounts applied for by local authorities for expenditure during the forthcoming year on construction works. The total cash available for construction purposes this year will be in the vicinity of £550,000, and even this sum cat/ onlv be obtained by transferring £350,000 from the revenue fund, while applications have already been received for a sum of over £OOO,OOO. The Act requires district highway councils, and, in turn, the board,, to make an annual review of viain highways, and in terms of the Act a total of 975 additional miles of main highway were recommended bv district highway councils for declaration. Estimates of future income and expenditure indicate that the excess of expenditure over income, added to transfer from revenue fund referred to above, will probably extinguish the credit balance in the board’s revenue fund very soon. This, added to the fact that there are already heavy commitments against the capital funds annually available to the board, will not permit the board taking on any substantial additional responsibilities, and accordingly only a very small percentage of the new roads recommended to be brought within the scope of the board’s operations are to be accepted.