MAIN HIGHWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 17

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

EXPENDING THE SURPLUS.

PUSHING WORK FORWARD. Tho following statement, has been made by Mr. M. H. Wynyard, of tho Main Highways Board, in answer <o a subleader in tho Herald, of October 9, referring to the funds of tho Main Highways Board and unemployment. First, with reference to tho statement that the estimated revenue of tho board for tho year is £1,250,000, and tho expenditure estimates only £995,000 I would point out, that the latter represents only the expenditure on maintenance of roads and administration. The estimates for construction amount in addition to £1,405,043. As the construction fund comprises £300,000 annual contribution from Loan Account, and £200,000 public works grant, it is clear that any expenditure over £500.000 (the total of these sums) must come out of Revenue Account.

The actual cash appropriations arc for maintenance £975,000, and for construction £1,000,000, making a total of £1,975,000, or £225,000 more than the board's estimate of total receipts for the year. The programme of the board is designed to reduce the accumulations about this sum per annum. These accumulations, it should bo mentioned, arose through the excess over anticipations of revenue from licence fees and registrations, and from the first receipts from petrol tax, and through (lie limitations of expenditure by the board owing to the general rates of subsidy being fixed by statute. A full review of the finances was made by the board in May last, and, as a re suit, statutory powers have been given by the recent amendment Act, enabling it to carry out its extended programme. It is not considered by the board possible to expend the whole surplus at once, as local authorities have to go through the various formalities for finding their quotas of subsidy after the final arrangements with thorn are made, but wherever possible the board is pushing forward the expenditure. It may happen that, owing to the necessary negotiations and formalities, there may be little actual reduction this financial year, but, as the various schemes become finished, the pace will get faster and the expenditure become heavier until the surplus, less a safe margin for contingencies, has disappeared. With reference to unemployment, tho board lias opened up many works in anticipation of actual requirements, though all of ultimate importance, to provide work for unemployed, and in addition to the large number of ordinary regular employees on tho highways, there was in September over 1000 relief workers engaged.