STATE HIGHWAYS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3846, 16 December 1936, Page 7

STATE HIGHWAYS

COST OF SCHEME TO LOCAL BODIES. MINISTER EXPLAINS THE POSITION. “There is no doubt that a misunderstanding has arisen,” said the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, in replying to a Press report of a statement by the chairman of the Masterton County Council, expressing the opinion that the taking over of State highways by the Main Highways Board would entail an additional burden on local bodies. This opinion was based on remarks by the deputychairman when recently in the South Island. The Minister said that the chairman of the Highways Board informed him that the deputy chairman did not indicate that in order to provide finance for State highways other works would have to be curtailed by local bodies, nor had it ever been intended or suggested that such would be the case. During recent discussions with local bodies in the South Island, the deputy chairman had explained that with the advent of the State highways system and the consequent financial relief to most local bodies, it would be necessary in future to adhere more firmly to standard subsidy rates for highways works generally. This’ intimation was made so that local bodies would understand that only under very special circumstances would consideration be given to requests for preferential assistance, but each case would still receive consideration according to its merits. SAVINGS TO LOCAL BODIES. “There has been no suggestion that local bodies will be starved on secondary highways to provide money for the State arterial system, and as long as the local authorities are willing to undertake highway work on the standard basis, I know of no reason why their activities should decline in any way,” said Mr Semple. “I confirm the chairman’s advice as a notification to local bodies generally, that in addition to the benefits derived by wav of substantial savings on State highways they cannot expect to obtain a double advantage in the way of preferential subsidies. The State highways scheme will save local bodies approximately £120,000 per annum, and this additional charge upon the fund can be met by an increase in the annual appropriation for highways purposes.” The Minister added that local bodies in the North Island had thanked him for what he had done, and had stated that the relief they had received had enabled them to spend more money on subsidiary roads.