Mo More Money For County Roads: Mr. Mash’s Attitude

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22696, 22 July 1948, Page 6

Mo More Money For County Roads: Mr. Mash’s Attitude

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 22. “The Government is already spending more on the maintenance and improvement of main and State highways than it receives from the taxation of motor spirits levied for highway purposes. The limit of Government help to counties has, therefore, been reached." This intimation from the Minister of Finance, Mr. W. Nash, has been received by the Federated Farmers in reply to a resolution from its Dominion council calling the Government's attention to tne “deplorable state of country reading." Tne Minister in his letter stated that finance to a certain extent was ir.acie available to county councils in special case: for the construction and improvement of county roads. At present that was tne most the Government could reasonably provide from the present taxation, he said.

Tne federation had asked the Government to accede to requests Already made tor a rebate to counties of motor taxation on a £1 for £i subsidy applicable to the county as distinct from nignway roading. Mr. Nash added that while the rates of some counties were approaching the maximum authorised by statute, the position in other counties was very different.