ALLEGED ANOMALY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17153, 1 October 1926, Page 8

ALLEGED ANOMALY

HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE SUBSIDIES TO BOROUGHS (Per Press Association.) BLENHEIM, this clay. A curious anomaly in regard to the payment of highway subsidies to boro, ugh councils for the maintenance of portions of main highways under their jurisdiction was brought before the Blenheim Borough Council. As a result of inquiries which were made, the; Highways Board representative stated that any subsidy payable to the Borough Commi] jwas bask'd,. u|jo!n f.lu v 'Marlborough (Vmnty Council’s rate of expenditure on main highways in proximity to the borough. The town clerk said' he had ascertained that though certain amounts were allowed in the Highway Board’s estimates for the upkeep of highways within the borough by way of subsidy to the council’s expenditure, the actual amount, paid to a borough was not based upon their own expenditure on these particular roads, hut- upon the expenditure of the county council on roads outside the borough. The Mayor said the way in. which the money was apportioned was nothing short of absurd. Tf the borough spent, the money tins' year on its portion of the highways, and the county chose to spend nothing, there would he no subsidy. Next year, if the borough spent nothing and the county spent a good deal, the borough still would get nothing. It was decided to forward a protest against the system, and to frame a remit for the next meeting of the Municipal Association.