ROADING FINANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 206, 30 August 1940, Page 5

ROADING FINANCE

ALLOCATION FOR WHAKATANE COUNTY MINISTER'S COMMENT ON: COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION In a further letter in reply lo the Whakatane County Council, whiclx at its last meeting decided to forward a protest to the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, on the drastic cuts in Main Highways and other road and bridge grants, Mr Semple said that, with regard to bridge grants, it was the Government's desire to restrict capital expenditure as far as possible during the war period, especially in view of the heavy commitments of war expenses. Expenditure must be limited to the most urgent and justifiable works and the council's cooperation in conserving funds was requested. In regard to the maintenance (of Main Highways, it was not the Minister's <lesire that the standard of upkeep should! be allowed to deteriorate to the extent that the present assets would be lost. Traffic Densities Decreasing. "Nevertheless, there are already indications that traffic densities are decreasing, and it should consequently be practicable to effect a reduction in maintenance expenditure,"' the letter continued, "and! at the same time retain a reasonable standard of loading. If it is fount! that a particular highway requires attention beyond the amount allowed on the Estimates, and the necessary expenditure can be met from funds not required for another highway, the council should approach the Main Highways Board with a view to transferring the surplus amount. It is not possible to increase the amounts which have been provided this year for county roads ancl bridges or Main Highways maintenance," the Minister concluded. The Works Committee recommendation was that if the District Engineer's reply to a subsequent letter is unsatisfactory, the council should renew its application for a review of the grants made. This was approved by the council at its ordinary monthly meeting.

SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATES ■ . i £21,000 FOR WHAKATANE COUNTY CONDITIONAL AUTHORISATION The Public Works Department Dis \ trict Engineer at Tauranga, advising the Whakatane: County Council of * the road vote schedule, for the area, stated that every care must he tak- » en to conserve expenditure out of the vote and the fact that an item appears on the estimates must not be taken as an indication that the authorisation of ihe amount will necessarily follow unless the proposed work is of particular urgency or national value under circumstances. Work must not be put lit hand on any particular item until the proposals have been approved by the Department and the monetary authority actually issued. This procedure will be rigidly enforced. The schedule gives, the following particulars: Opotiki County ........ £1970 Rotorua County ........ £8355 Taupo County £3270 Tauranga County ...... £3960 Whakatane County £21,,445 The figure- for the Whakatane County includes £2000 for the Edgecumbe Block Access and Internal Roads; £18,000 for the Rotorua tot Waikaremoana Road and £535 for miscellaneous works -and services. This leaves £910 for expenditure by the Council;