Highways Board Funds

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6626, 13 August 1931, Page 3

Highways Board Funds

FOR ROADING PURPOSES ALONE. OROUA COUNTY VIEW, At yesterday ’s meeting of the Oroua County Council a letter was received from the North Island Motor Union relative to possible proposals for an alteration in the allocation of main highways funds and an attempt being made by the Government to utilise a portion of those ear marked funds for other purposes, The letter asked the councif to closely watch any Government action towards touching the main highways funds. The chairman said that the letter spoke for itself and he agreed that the council should closely watch the position. Touching upon the Prime Minister’s statement that it was unsound to earmark a tax for any specific purpose, Cr. Campbell said that this attitude was not consistent with the Government’s unemployment tax where money was raised for a definite purpose. Ho only had one view regarding the taxation which provided the funds for the Main Highways Board and that was that the revenue was raised exclusively for reading purposes in order to lessen the burden on the ratepayer. The Oroua County had benefited under the scheme and had been able to reduce its Indebtedness as well as reduce its rating, besides accomplishing extensive road improvements.

The council agreed to watch the position and register an emphatic protest should the Government attempt to use the Highways Board funds for any other purpose.