THE EARTHQUAKE

Inangahua Times, 7 December 1929, Page 3

THE EARTHQUAKE

THE DAMAGED ROADS. BEARING HHE COST MOTORISTS' VIEWS (Per Press Association. \ DUNEDIN, Last night. The question of restoration of road: 1 affected on the West Coast by tin earthquake in June, received some -it 13 tention at. tho quarterly meeting of Mu Tho. President, Mr A. E. Ansel! n I M.P., made reference to ‘the stat onion; L * I made some time ago, that the f ways fund was to bear the whole cx ]>ense of reconditioning of West Const roads. The cost of restoration 1 then estimated at from £250,000 to £SOO, .000. These figures were regarded by -motorists with some concern. A resolution, protesting against it hi* drain on tho Highways fund was e<l at a previous meeting of the Union. Mr An sell stated tlhat he had discussed the mattcfr - with the .Minister of Public Works during Parliamentary session and had -had a question ready to ask in the House. The Minister had asked -Mr Ansell to defer the matter, in order that h.‘ might discuss it with Cabinet. Mir An sell had complied with the re quest a.nd -bad! since been notified by Hon Ransom, that Cabinet had decided to bear a portion of the cost. The actual proportion to be borne by Cabinet had not -been decided). Mr Dobson, 'Canterbury delegate to Union, said that a motorist who had recently been through the district af fected 'by the earthquake had stated that the work of restoration would be comparatively easy. A suggestion was made by Mr Halil ■day (Otago) that a considerable portion of the cost of restoration should be met by the Consolidated Fund and that the Highway Fund should not be required to provide more than 25 -per cent. Mr Furness (Marlborough) was of the opinion that, as restoration of West Coast roads was a matter of National importance, considerable proportion ci' the cost should be -borne by the Consolidated Fund. It was decided to mention in a letter to the Minister, that restoration of roads was a matter for National consideration. ‘ffc