ROAD ESTIMATES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 September 1925, Page 7

ROAD ESTIMATES.

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. Mention was made by the Minister for Public Works in his annual statement to the method of allocating funds for various road works. In this connection he said: ‘‘The system of preparing the-public works roads estimates in accordance with each district’s claims for consideration under such factors as area, population, rating, loans for roading purposes, values of undeveloped lands, and estimated amount to fully complete all legal roads has again been adopted. This system, which is the most fair and equitabc vet devised, and under which no one district receives at the expense of other localities a greater amount of Government financial assistance than that to which it is justly entitled, is proving entirely satisfactory. Its operations takes the various local bodies very much into the confidence of the department-, and hv being made aware before the estimates are actually prenored what amount of assistance may he obtained for that financial year a local body is able to map out a comprehensive programme for the year’s operations, and have all arrangements made in time for an early commencement with work as soon ns_ weather conditions permit. A most important feature of the application of this scheme of allocation in connection with the annual roads estimates is the arrangement whereby officers of the department and the local body confer as to the general requirements of the district- concerned. By this means more cordial relations are established between the department and the local bodies' penerally. and the advantages to the Dominion from the resultant linking up of local body operations are obvious.”