ROAD MAINTENANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 12

ROAD MAINTENANCE

COSTS TO LOCAL BODIES EFFECT OF REDUCED ESTIMATES A reduction in the estimates for road maintenance by the Main Highways Board was reported at a meeting of the Manukau County Council yesterday. The engineer, Mr. J. R. Page, stated that the maintenance estimates for the various highways had been reduced by 20 per cent and the wages rates and plant-hire rates upon which subsidies be paid had been drastically reduced from July 1. "This means that the board's contribution, although nominally on a £3 to £1 basis, will not nearly cover 75 per cent of the cost of the works," lie stated. "If it is the intention of the Highways Board to reduce tho contributions for the maintenance of main roads, and yet at the same time expect that the roads be kept up to a good standard, the costs will undoubtedly fall on local bodies," he stated. He gave an instance of a statement which had been made that the roads were deteriorating at the rate of £200,000 a year, and said that a reduction in the contributions would have the result of forcing them to leave the upkeep of some roads to a future date. * "This winter the weather conditions have been very nearly perfect," he continued, "and the amount of maintenance necessary has been much less than usual. If the rains had been heavy, as is usually experienced, there would have been an urgent demand for repairs to sections of roads and, as far as I can see, no more money would have been forthcoming. We can consider that we have got through this winter very well."