HIGHWAYS AND DERATING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 12

HIGHWAYS AND DERATING.

Sir, —I regret it is necessary to again refer to the statement made by Mi. H. M. "Rushworth. M.P., in condemning tiie Reform Party's Main Highways Act at Whangarci and at Hamilton, Mr. Rushworth has, however, seen fit to sidestep the question in his reply to my previous letter, and it would not bo in the best interests of those concerned to leave the matter where Mr. Rushworth has left it, especially in view of the fact that Farmers' Unions and county councils are combining to preserve the measure of derating which the Reform Party's Act provided and to increase it if possible. I must ask Mr. Rushworth to face facts and to give figures to prove his considered assertion that " prior to the passing of the Reform Party's Main Highways Act the northern counties spent £16,000 on roads now declared main highways, but through the operation of the Main Highways Act the cost to the counties had increased to £66,000." The exact amount spent by each of the eight counties in the north on main and secondary highways is easily obtainable from any county clerk in the area, also the amount spent by the Main Highways Board on these roads. Mr. Rushworth can get these figures at his convenience. In view of the fact that the Main Highways Board provides a subsidy of two pounds for every pound spent bv the local bodies in maintenance of main and secondary highways, and tlnep pounds for one pound spent on construction and reconstruction work, it would be of great interest to Farmers' Unions and county councils, who are grappling with the problem of further derating of farm lands, if Mr. Rushworth would explain how, in his opinion, the operations of the Main Highways Act (partial derating) have had the effect of increasing the cost of these particular roads to the local ratepayers by over 400 per cent. I trust that Mr. Rushworth as a man holding a responsible position will give a serious and considered reply to the points raised, as the success or failure of the Reform Party's Highways Act is of much more vital interest to tiie ratepayers of tho Dominion than whether the Leader of tho Country Party is a dreamer or otherwise. J. A. S. Mackay, Whangarci.