MAIN HIGHWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 21073, 3 May 1930, Page 8

MAIN HIGHWAYS

BOARD’S FINANCE

REDUCED INCOME EXPECTED STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN (Per United Press Association.) Blenheim, May 2. In the course of his remarks at a conference of the Main Highways Board and Marlborough local bodies, Mr F. W. l*urkert, chairman, made it clear that the board was fully expecting a reduction in income this year, and in consequence would have to restrict expenditure in some degree. , , Mr Furkert’s remarks were prompted by the fact that several requests were made to the board for declaration for additional highways in connection with which the board would have to pay subsidies. "The board reviews the main highways every year, and that review is due this month,” he stated. "We must consider the present financial position. All indications at the present time are that the public are going to have smaller purchasing power than for several years past. That means that they will burn less benzine, use less tyres and probably import fewer motor cars, and it is almost certain our reveune will be less. It will not increase the way it has been increasing. "We will have to go very cannily before -we declare many extra highways,” Mr lurkert proceeded. "Any modifications we make may be in the direction of removing from the list roads which do not justify inclusion in the category of highways and giving in substitution roads that have •stronger claims to being declared. The whole business will have to be gone into carefully in connection with the annual review.”