The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1935. STARVING THE ROADS

Southland Times, Issue 25310, 13 June 1935, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1935. STARVING THE ROADS

Mention roads and footpaths, and all the complaints of the citizens will descend upon the head of the City Engineer, and after him upon the Works Committee of the municipality; but those who . have looked at the report presented to the council on Tuesday night concerning the amounts voted for the maintenance of the roads will, even if they do not remember that similar warnings were issued to the council in previous years, come to the decision that the trouble is not in the engineering, but in the amount of money voted for the upkeep of the streets by the council itself. Modern science may have discovered a method by which bricks can be made without straw, but there is as yet no method by which it is possible to keep roadways in good condition without the. expenditure of money, when it is seen that since 1926-27 the expenditure on road maintenance has been steadily falling until in the year 1935 it fell to £2842, less than half of what it was in 1914-15, £BOO less than it was in 1933-34, and £l2OO less than it was in 1932-33. Anxiety is to be expected. It is true that there has been some reduction in costs, but the steady reduction in the amount of gravel used is also an indication that in spite of any lowering in the cost of road maintenance per yard, there has been a steady retraction in the amount of work made possible by the funds allotted. For several years past the City Engineer has drawn attention to this point, and we have emphasized the force of his warning, lie has informed the council and the citizens that the amount voted fox- road maintenance was insufficient to keep the roads in good repair, and the situation at the beginning of the year is more serious than it was twelve months ago, owing to the growth of the amount of deterioration, and in the rate of deterioration. The condition of the footpaths may be associated with that of the roads, because here again the report of the Engineer is that he has not the financial resources necessary to keep the footpaths in the condition that the citizens desire. While the council is busying itself with discussions over contracts and libraries, while it is whittling away revenue in some departments, it is faced with the condition of things which demands a substantial increase in expenditure. The Finance Committee, and its chairman (Councillor Ritchie), who has been responsible fox - that close adherence to the estimates which has brought about the balanced budget, have kept a close hand upon the expenditure, but it looks very much as if it cannot carry this economy any further without turning it into a waste. When that economy is carried too far the result is a loss, and it can be seen that insofar as the roads are concerned, a continuance of the present policy will involve the municipality in much heavier expenditure in a year or two, and will burden the citizens with inferior roads in the meantime. Ratepayers naturally look sourly upon any proposal to increase the rates, but if they take heed of the City Engineer’s report, as they should, they will realize that the case he presents is one which demands action during the current year. The drift in connection with road maintenance cannot be allowed to proceed without the City Council being subjected to the charge of a cheese-paring that amounts to mismanagement. Mr Corkill has added to his list of warnings, each one of which puts the responsibility on the City Council, and if the councillors do not act and provide him with sufficient funds to make good the deterioration of recent years, and maintain the roads at a proper standard, the entire blame must be assumed by them.