WEST COAST ROADS

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1933, Page 5

WEST COAST ROADS

LARGER VOTES Than for Canterbury (I*' r Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. At the meeting of the general coun ci] uf the Canterbury Automobile Association. the chairman. Mr \V. K. Carey, presided. The Roads Committer reported that letters had been received from the Greymouth branch concerning the completion of the Kumara-Flowery Creek deviation, involving a distance of four milt's. It was stated that com munications had been sent to the Alain Highways Board and to the Rt. Hon ,F. G. Coates, former Minister for Public Works, -who had replied that he had placed the question before the Minister of Employment and the I n employment Board for consideration. It was stated that the Highway.-, Board had agreed to consider the question at its next meeting. Comparative figures showing the expenditure by the Main Highways Board on West Coast and Canterbury roads were supplied by Ihe board to the Greymouth branch and quoted by the Roads Committee. It was shown that the sum spent on roads in the, West Coast No. 12 District last year was £86.837, as against a total of £100,715 in the three Canterbury districts, Nos. 13, 14 and 15Since* the inception of the Highways Board a total of £528.775 ha.l been spent in the West Coast district, this including earthquake damage repairs. During the same period a total of £560.442 had been spent in Hie three Canterbury districts. “It will be seen from these, figures,” the committee said, “that the West Coast has roceivOil a very large proportion of I lie highways funds, taking population and milage into consideration.” differences in expenditure AND REVENUE. Mr F. W. Freeman remarked that it was somewhat amazing to find so much highways money being spent ou the West Coast. Tim differing amounts were all the more impressive when it was stated that there was a total of 4000 motor vehicles on the West Coast as compared with 38.000 in the three Canterbury districts, which contributed a very much larger urn by way of highways taxation.