COUNTRY ROADS.

Northland Age, Volume 25, Issue 16, 13 August 1925, Page 7

COUNTRY ROADS.

PA YING FOR THE HIGHWAYS. An interesting point in connection with counties’ work on t ie main highways has arisen in Gisborne in the case of the Cook County Council, and it is considered likely that a similar position obtains elsewhere. Prior to commencing highways work last year, the council took the opinion of Mr. Martin, counsel for the Counties’Association, asto whether expenditure on main highways should be charged as county or riding expenditure. The advice received was to the effect that main highway expenditure was a riding matter, and estimates were framed and work done in conformity with thisopinion. An auditor from the Government, who is now in the office, states that the highways work is chargeable to the county and not to the separate ridings. This will cause a serious position, as some of the ridings will be in debit at the commencement of the year after being charged with their share of the highways expenditure, and the balance sheet will therefore be tagged. Moreover, unless an additional rate is levied this year work on subsidiary roads will not be able to be undertaken owing to the ridings which do not benefit having to find their share of the cost of the main highways work. Tiie position seems unfair, but it is understood that the Audit Department contests the decision of Mr. Martin, and all councils will have to charge all highway expenditures over the whole of the county. The Counties’ Association has the matter in hand, and possibly an alteration may bemade in the rule. The decision is particularly unfair in the case of the Cook County, as at least two of the ridings make no use whatever of the main highways, yet have to use the greater part of their rate in paying for this work. It is believed that tßere are many counties in a similar position.