PETROL TAX

Evening Star, Issue 19775, 27 January 1928, Page 3

PETROL TAX

BENEFIT TO SMALL BOROUGHS HIGHWAY DISTRICTS REVISED iSPECIAL TO THE * STAB.'] WELLINGTON, January 26. The highway districts throughout tho dominion have their boundaries altered, according to a ‘ Gazette ’ notice tonight, tho reason for the changes being to bring the districts into line with the scheme for the distribution of the petrol tax receipts. The statute provides for a defiiiite proportion of the revenue to be received by boroughs of over 6,000 population, and it was made clear by the Government that the smaller local bodies who have to maintain roads which are essential links in the main highways would also receive consider.v tion. Consequently, the new boundaries announced are designed to include in an adjacent highways district all boroughs with a smaller population than 6,000. . Tho next step is that the Main Highways Board will declare as main highways the continuation of the* highway through these borough areas. Under tho former system these boroughs have received assistance for maintenance only on the same basis as the board has subsidised the maintenance on the adjoining length of county main highway; but in future they will be entitled to the same benefits as county councils in respect both of construction and maintenance. _________