THE HIGHWAYS

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1932, Page 5

THE HIGHWAYS

DETERIORATION ALLEGED. CHRISTCHURCH. September 20. The Motorists’ representative on the Mai n Highways Board, Mr M. H. Wynward, alleged recently that the highways of the Dominion were deteriorating at the estimated rat e of £200.<>oo a year. Mr F. W. Freeman (Chairman of the Canterbury Automobile As sociation Roads Committee) agrees there is deterioration. H o says it is setting i n owing to the Government’s policy in appropriating the Highways Board’s funds and in limiting expenditure On road maintenance. In th'» highways return of 1930, said Mr Freeman, over £l,OOO 000 wag included* in fhe estimates for road maintenance. l n th- 1931 return this had shrunk to £872,000. To-day the post tion was even more serious. The Government had confiscated the whole of the Highways Board’s funds and re venue and had promised to leave sufficient for maintenance. This sum had bee n estimated by th 0 Board’s engin eer at £700,000 as the absolute minimum. The Government had reduced this sum to £650,000, and it was very doubtful if this was being entirely spent on the roads. “The present policy will lay a double burden on posterity,’’ said Mr Freeman. “Th - roads are certainly going back, and our transport facilities are consequently being reduced. The primary producer ig suffering as well as the motorist. The Government will be faced with th e task of having to reconstruct the highways, and their policy of 1 penny wise, pound foolish’ will soon land the country in heavy expenditure. ’ ’