MAIN HIGHWAYS FINANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 10

MAIN HIGHWAYS FINANCE.

The situation v in regard to unemployment in Auckland is shown by an account of inquiries made yesterday to be still serious. Whether the hope of finding work in the city has caused a congregation of idle men from the country districts, whether sufficient thought has been given by local authorities, both rural and urban, to their responsibilities, the fact remains that a considerable number of men are unable to find useful employment and their number is increasing. By now, ordinary farming occupations are probably fully manned for the season, while various activities which absorbed labour during the winter months are concluding. In these circumstances, the most hopeful prospect of substantial relief would appear to bo a more expeditious prosecution of road construction works. Attention has been directed several times to the progressive accumulation of funds in the hands of the Main Highways Board. According to its own accounts, it received in the last financial year £123,000 more than its expenditure, making the accumulated surplus £770,884. In its report, the board presents an elaborate argument to prove that actually the balance over commitments was only £500,000, and sets forth reasons why it cannot move faster than it has done. Its contentions are discounted by its own estimate that this year's revenue will be £1,250,000, which agrees with the Budget forecast, whereas the latter's estimates propose an expenditure of only £995,000. The position is not satisfactory. Taxation for roadinaking has been greatly increased, the proceeds are accumulating instead of being used, and mon who might be employed are drifting in idleness and discontent. A great deal has been done by the Government to relieve unemployment; if it does more, the cost will have to be met out of taxation. And all the time there is a large fund drawn from taxation held "at call" or "invested temporarily until required." The Highways Board says that any modification of its plans would upset the five years' programme. Other public authorities have realised the necessity for proceeding with works ahead of thcif- programmes, and have strained their resources to do so. It is time the Highways Board also recognised that, by the scope of its operations and the dimensions of its resources, there is a direct responsibility upon it to expand the activities it controls and thus take its part in remedying the problem of unemployment.