MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18370, 1 May 1925, Page 5

MAIN HIGHWAYS ACT.

SOUTH ISLAND APATHY. PROGRESS LEAGUE'S i DISCUSSION. The discussion concerning the Main Highways Act which took place at the conference of delegates from South Island Progress Leagues at Invercargill this week has done this amount of good—it has shown how apathetic South Island local bodies are in the matter of applying for funds to enable them to proceed with the work of improving roads in their respective districts. It is useless to declaim against the amount of money that is being spent in the North Island as against that in the South, when the position is as stated. The Act allows counties to apply for one-third of the amount they intend to spend in respect of maintenance, while they themselves find the other two-thirds, and a £ for & subsidy is given by tho Government, for reconstruction work. No more money can, according to the Act, bo spent in the North Island than it is entitled to, tho amount being calculated on the proportion of the motor vehicles in each island. The amounts to bo allocated to the North and South will be arrived at as soon, as the final figures in respect of registrations are to hand .The Highways Board deals with each application on its merits, and if it considers tho application is justified, the amount asked for is approved. It is felt that the amount of the subsidy for maintenance is insufficient and that it should consequently be increased. This much has been admitted by tho Highways Board; consequently it is not unlikely that in the future an improvement will be effected in this connexion. The point to bo remembered is that stressed by Mr J. S. Hawkes, president of the South Island Motor Union, in an ■ interview on Wednesday with a representative of "The Press—that that bodv does not object to the amount of money which is being obtained by the North Island, recognising that tho local bodies there are not getting a penny more than they arc entitled to, and that if a greater allocation is required for the South Island application must bo made for it.