MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16663, 17 February 1925, Page 7

MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS.

MONEY GOING BEGGING. LOCAL BODIES BACKWARD. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. 1 At the Main Highways Board’s monthly meeting the monthly statement of accounts submitted showed that the total amount paid out by the Board as subsidies owards the cost of construction during January was £21,476, while towards the cost of maintenance an amount i of only £7086 wast paid. Maintenance is carried out in most cases by the local authorities themselves*. after which they make application to the Board’s representative in the district for the Board’s subsidy of one-third, but local authorities have been so slow in making their claims that out of an amount of £91,731 authorised for expenditure only £38,715 has been applied for and paid during the period between June 9, 1924, and January,3l, 1925. The failure of county councils to take advantage of the Board’s subsidy during the financial year is not viewed with favor and in consequence a circular lias been despatched to local bodies:— “The attention of the Board has been drawn to the very small amount of money so far paid out in some districts for maintenance. ■lt appears that although the Main Highways Board lias made a sum of approximately £175,000 available to assist local authorities' in maintaining their roads, quite a number have nof, thought it worth their while to make even an application for payment for same. Tho simplicity of the information required as set out i,n the back of form M-H.B. 13 is such that no expert knowledge is required and a minimum of work is involved, and therefore the Board cannot understand what is the reason that prevents local authorities from submitting their proposals and consequently receiving the money. As the end of the financial year is very close, it is hoped that the local authorities will make an effort to square up the matter and put in claims as much beforo that date a» possible in order that there shall not be a large unexpended balance standing in the books at the end of the financial year, which would make is. appear aS'if the amount provided by tbe Government for use on highways was much greater than what was necessary and might result in a reduction thereof. This would not be to blip advantage either of the local authorities or of the highways themselves.”