MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20372, 28 September 1929, Page 10

MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS.

GRANTS FROM STATE FUNDS PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION. BOTH TO BE MADE FREE. REPRESENTATIONS SUCCEED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ' ASSOCIATION. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Advice that the Prime Minister had agreed to continue the previous contributions to the Main Highways Fund was received at a meeting of the South Island Motor Union to-day.

A letter was received from Mr. A. E. Ansell, M.P., president of the union, in which ho quoted statements by the Prime Minister as reported in Hansard, and as appearing in tho Budget, to show that whatever Sir Joseph Ward's present intentions were his previous intentions were to debit the Highways Fund with tho accrued interest on the annual grant of £200,000 from the Public Works fond, and to cease paying the annual grant of £35,000 from the Consolidated Fund.

The reading of the following telegram from Mr. H. C. Jones, president of the North Island Motor Union, closed the discussion: —

"As chairman of the combined deputation which interviewed the Prime Minister last week in reference to highways funds, 1 met Sir Joseph Ward with the Minister of Transport to-day and received his reply to our representations. I am pleased to say that he has decided to make a free grant of £200,000 from the Public Works Fund and £35,000 frotn the Consolidated Fund."

"This is very satisfactory," said the chairman, Mr. H. 0. Harley. "It shows what ceaseless activity and persistence can do. We have received all we asked for this time and now we are all right."