“BONE OF CONTENTION”

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 31, 28 January 1933, Page 5

“BONE OF CONTENTION”

Heavy Traffic Fees Again

NEW BASIS OF ALLOCATION? COST TO WAIPUKURAU COUNTY That .bone of contention, the allocation of heavy traffic fees, which the counties of Hawke’s Bay seem to find particularly succulent, has again been unearthed.

Prior to the year 1931-32 the allocation was based equally on the following factors: Capital value of county, mileage of metalled roads, and use of roads. At a conference held in June last, a fourth factor, “cost of maintenance of roads,’’ was added. When the allocation came to be made, however, there was some disagreement as to what this fourth factor implied. Patangata, Waipukurau and Weber counties contended that it meant the cost of maintenance per mile, while Hawke’s Bay, Woodville. Dannevirke, Waipawa, and Wairoa counties maintained that it meant the total cost of maintenance.

Last Year’s Basis

Finally it was decided to compromise, allowing one-eighth for total

cost of maintenance and one-eighth for cost per mile. The fees for 193132 were allotted on this basis. The question was opened up again at the Hawke's Bay Counties' Conference held on Wednesday, the Hawke's Bay County introducing a remit, to the effect that, for the year 1932-33, the fourth factor should be

straight out “total cost of mainten-

ance.” The matter was referred to a sub-

conference of engineers, which, after a long discussion, decided to recommend that the fees should be allocated in accordance with one factor only, which may be summarised as “cost of mainteance of roads.”

Pronosed New Basis

In detail this means that the fees would be allocated in accordance with: —

(1) The amounts expended to preserve such roads, or keep them in a state of condition conforming as nearly as possible to the general features of their original condition, without adding thereto or making replacements other than those necessary to a limited extent to preserve such condition.

(2) The interest and sinking-fund

charges on all loans or portions of loans raised by the local authorities solely for the improvement of the surface of such road and bridges.

( 3a) Such amounts expended out of revenue for the improvement of the surface of such roads as are apportioned to the above period by the Commissioner of Transport for the purposes of this clause: (b) The

amounts spent out of revenue during the previous 10 years for the improvement of roads in concrete and bitumen and concrete bridges (these amounts to be capitalised and an allowance made at the rate of 5 per cent).

Counties voting against this proposal were Waipukurau, Hawke’s Bay and Woodville. The recommendation did not meet with the unanimous approval of the main conference, but nevertheless, it was decided to let it go forward to the counties for their individual decisions. Hou It Will Affect Counties If the total fees receipts were to remain the same as last year, and the allocation were to be made on the proposed new basis, the three Central Hawke's Bay Counties would receive the following sums, last year's allocations being shown in parentheses: -—Waipukurau, £lO4 (£23.0): Patangata, £1094 (£863); Waipawa, £BO4 (£846).

In view of the fact that it stands to loose approximately £126, it seems certain that the Waipukurau County will not agree to the proposal. It is also probable that Hawke’s Bay ami fkVeber will object, as their receipts would also be considerably reduced.

It is possible that the difficulty may be overcome by making special grants to these counties.

If Agreement Not Reached

If, however, the counties fail to reach an agreement among themselves, the allocations will be fixed by the Minister of Transport. In accordance with the regulations, the

Minister will be guided by factors very similar to those proposed by the conference, the only difference being the deletion of clause 3b and the pvords “and bridges” at the end of clause 2.