MAIN HIGHWAYS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 100, 28 February 1947, Page 5

MAIN HIGHWAYS

BOARD S FINANCIAL POSITION COUNTY COUNCILLORS CRITICISM At the meeting of the Whakatane County Council last Tuesday a letter from the P.W.D. advised that the Main Highways Board finds it.self unable to recommend the declaration of any additional Main Highways or classification of existing Main Highways as State Highways at the present time. The Board was most anxious to extend the Highways system and thus grant more relief to the Local Authorities who are experiencing difficulty in financing the cost of road improvements in their respective areas. It was fully anticipated that the extra funds necessary to cover the Board’s share of the cost of improvements and maintenance of further Highways would have been provided, but as the additional money required was not forthcoming, the ’ Board, after carefully reviewing its own financial position, decided that all of its existing revenue was necessary to maintain the present highways system without accepting further liabilities.

The County Chairman reported that the opportunity of conferring with the Main Highways Board when it passed through Whakatane on the 10th February had been afforded him. The Board had spent about one hour in Whakatane and he had represented to it the following matters:—-

1. Waioho Creek widening in relation to the possible State Highway from Te Teko to Taneatua. 2. Wainui Deviation via Ohiwa.

In both cases the Board had promised to have its inspecting engineer visit the district at an early date and report finally, to the Board.

Other matters mentioned were £ for £ subsidy on County road maintenance expenditure with particular reference to the Te Teko-Galatea-Te Whaiti Road—further funds £3OO for the maintenance of the Wainui Main Highway and the matter of an annual grant being made hereafter to provide funds for the straightening* of the Matata-Rotoma Main Highway—Edgecumbe Subway, site is not yet decided—Matahina Road and Whirinaki Bridge at Galatea in relation to Government’s proposals for first class highway or railway on West Bank of the Rangitaiki River.

The curtailment of the Main Highways programme was strongly criticised by councillors who again asserted that the deflection of funds from the Petrol Tax revenue to the Consolidated Fund was wrong both in principle and practice. Cr Luxton declared that the Main Highways throughout the county were in a shocking state and he considered the Board should be asked to state why the money was not forthcoming. He referred particularly to the work going on, on the Taneatua road, which unless completed soon would be reduced to a hopeless mess in the winter.

Cr McCready asked why the Main Highways Board should be forced to pay interest on money borrowed from the Consolidated Fund when its own legitimate revenue was diverted to swell that fund. He classed the whole position as chaotic.

The council resolved to protest against the appropriation of transport tax money for purposes other than those for which it was intended and to seek an explanation from the Minister of Works.