MAIN HIGHWAY ESTIMATES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 268, 12 October 1932, Page 9

MAIN HIGHWAY ESTIMATES

No. 9 DISTRICT. AIANAAVATU COUNTY FIGURES. Notification of the main highway estimates as drawn up bj r the Alain Highways Board for local bodies were received at yesterday’s meeting of the Alanawatu County Council, the roads and figures allocated in the Alanawatu County being as follow : Auckland-AYellington highway, £1763 at £3 for £1 subsidy. Awahuri-Alan'gaweka: £413 (£3 for £1). Sanson.—Palmerston North: £l2O (£3 for £1). Hiniatangi. Palmerston North : £1275 (£3 for £1). Foxton-Shannon : £432 (£3 for £1). Lougburn-Rongoten: £3OO (£3 for £1). Tangimoana £132 (£3 for £1). Foxton Beach: £143 (£3 for £1). Alt. Stewart: £ll3 (£3 for £1). For traffic inspection the Manawatu group was awarded £346 on a £2 for £1 subsidy basis.

The acting chairman (Cr J. H. Perrett) remarked that it was unfair that local bodies should be so severely cut in their estimate requirements, and also that six months should elapse before the council received notice of what amount they were getting from the board. It was all very well, lie went on, for the board to inform councils that if the amounts allocated proved insufficient they could transfer money from other accounts to the road work. This was not always possible, and in aiy' case it did not make the council anv better off.

The engineer (Air H. V. Bond) agreed with the chairman that the delayed notification of the amount of the allocations was a matter for protest. It was a point which affected the council very seriouslv.

In the ensuing discussion it was pointed out that during the past six months the council had spent more, in some cases, than had been provided for in the above estimates, and this aspect made it very difficult for the council to adjust its accounts, particularly in view of the fact that the restricted estimates affected the labour employed on tlie various works. Air Bond explained that, to rectify matters, the council would have to cut down expenditure on tlie roads. The council had expected a cut, but there was nothing definite known, and now it found the mark had been overstopped in some cases. It would seriously affect the road upkeep position for the remainder of the year, Air Bond added. Cr. AV. E. Pearce remarked that the upshot of tlie matter would be that the council would finish up the year with bad roads, the engineer agreeing with him and adding that there would most likely be the utmost difficulty in making the restricted expenditure suit requirements. The figures which had come before the council should lie jilaced before the annual meeting when the current year's estimates were being prepared, Air Bond contended. Cr. Perrett agreed that ail alteration in tlie present arrangements was an absolute necessity. There was every reason why the local bodies should he advised earlier of the subsidies that would be available for tlie year’s work. The council decided to enter a protest against the delay which takes place in the notifying of the subsidies which will be available from the Alain Highways Board in regard to the highways estimates.