Urgent Road Works Only Allowed

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1940, Page 6

Urgent Road Works Only Allowed

There will be a drastic reduction in the Public Works road grants for this year and that all grants held over from last year, and against which there are no commitments, have been cancelled. ’ , • This information was contained in a letter received by the Whangarei County Council today, from the Public Works district engineer. The letter, together with the list < f the grants which were cancelled, was as follows: Less Money Available “It is expected that considerably less money'will be available under the roads vote this year and only those works of the most urgent nature, having regard to settlement needs and desire of the Government to increase primary production can be entertained.

“At the end of the financial year. March 31, 1940, there were substantial commitments against the roads vote, and these will of course be a first charge against the allocation for the present year. “The council is holding monetary authority for a number of works on which there are no commitments and in view of the prevailing conditions, it is probable that you may wish to revise your roading programme so that whatever moneys are available can be devoted to works which are regarded as most important from a national viewpoint. “I am therefore instructed by the Minister that all these authorities against which you have made no commitments are hereby cancelled. Urgent Work Consideration “If on revision of the programme it is found that a particular work is regarded as urgent and necessary, having regard to war conditions and the need for increasing primary producton, it will be further considered. “In this connection I would invite the co-operation of the council towards reaching a true understanding of those works which are really urgent so that the limited funds which will be available may be allotted to the works which will increase production. “If on considering this matter you find that authorities have been cancelled for some works which your council thinks are urgent, will you please advise me of the items giving a brief commentary indicating the purpose for which the funds are required and an indication of how they will inci-ease production.” Cancelled Works The following works are to be cancelled: Alison’s Road, £4B 17/1, £1 for £1; •Austin’s Road, £BO, free, £75,*»£3 for £1; Carruth’s Road, £23 11/11, £2 for £1; Chambers’s Road, £27 8/8, £2 for £1; Cosgrove’s Road, £6l 9/4, £3 for £1; Foster’s Road. £24 11/4 free, £42 17/11, £3 for £1; Fraser’s Road, £lB 4/, £4 for £1; Gibbs Road, £IOO, £2 for £1; Halvorsen’s Road, £IOO free, £l5O, £3 for £1; Helena BayMimiwhangata, £250, £2 for £1: Hikurangi River Bridge, £l9 3/3, £2 for £1; Jovich’s Road, £ISO, £2 for £1; McKinlay’s Road, £43 15/2, free; McLeod’s Access, Waipu, £67 4/3, free; Mangapai to Cave’s Road, £BO 14/6, £2 for £1; Massey’s Road, £53 18/, £3 for £1; Maungakaramea-Otuhi, £25 15/2, £1 for £1; Ngararatunua Swamp Road, £64 6/5, £3 for £1; North River Road, £l7 8/8, free; Ody’s Road, £4l 7/10, £2 for £1; Owhiwhi-Whareora, £4OO, £4 for £1; Pataua-Horahora, £95 1/10, £4 for £1; Rowland’s Road, Otaikarangi, £25, £3 for £1; TapuhiUmawhawha, £SB 8/1, free; TaranuiOwhiwha, £2O 16/5, £4 for £1; Taranui-Waiparera, £l3l 13/5, £4 for £1; Waiotu Block Road, £BO 1/-, £2 for £1; Courtenay’s Road, £65, £2 for £l. Reinstatement Move After the letter had been read, the clerk (Mr H. C. Hemphll) explained that already the list of grants it was intended to submit for this year amounted to £17,539, and some additional amounts had been added at the meeting. Of this money, £7555 was for new work, while £9984 was re-vo-ted from last year. Judging from the tone of the letter it appeared that this sum would have to be considerably curtailed. Regarding some of the grants cancelled, the council had already commenced work, while in some cases the work had been completed. In regard to these, the clerk considered that the money from the Government would be forthcoming, on representations being made. He also stated, in reply to a question put by a councillor, that all grants for which authority had not been received would automatically be cancelled. As among the grants cancelled were roads which were necessary for production and on which the council had been preparing to commence work, the chairman and staff were instructed to interview the district engineer to place before him and if possible secure the reinstatement of the grant.