HIGHWAYS FUND

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 144, 14 March 1931, Page 9

HIGHWAYS FUND

Prime Minister’s Proposal COUNTY OBJECTS Strong disapproval of the Prime Minister’s proposal to regard the funds ot the Main Highways Board as a general revenue was expressed by the chairman of the Makara County Council, Mr. E. Windley, at yesterday’s meeting of the council. The funds of the Main Highways Board, he said, had been raised tor reading purposes solely, and he hoped that strong objection would be taken by Parliament to any interference with the fund. . , ... The question arose through a letter from the Matamata County Council, asking approval of a suggestion that the present system of subsidising rates be abolished, and that the main highways system should be revised. The chairman said that, while they might sympathise with the idea of derating rural lands, he did not consider that the time was opportune for taking action in that direction. Their past experience had not been a happy one. The council had supported fl reduction in the petrol tax in the interests of. ratepayers, but they had found that this had not helped the farmers. He did, however, take strong exception to the Prime Minister’s recent statement that the funds of the Main Highways Board' should be regarded as general revenue. He was afraid that if there were to be anv interference with the main highways fund it was only going to place a further burden on county taxpayers. “We have to foot the bill one way or the other,” he said. Councillor R. W. Bothamley said that most of the counties were spending far too much on roads and their maintenance. If the councils allowed the roads to get into a state of disrepair the Government would be compelled to do something. Mr. Windley pointed out that before the Main Highways Act came into force the ratepayers were cryiug out for better roads. . , Councillor Bothamley: Yes; and the more you give them the more they want. The tax upon the farmers for roads is becoming an intolerable burden, It was decided to inform the Matamata County Council that the time was not considered opportune to take action in the direction suggested.