FINANCING YEAR'S WORK

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1947, Page 4

FINANCING YEAR'S WORK

County Estimates; Sealiug Of Roads Discussed The Horowhenua County Couh-' 3il's estimates for the year ending March 31, 1948, which were adopted , at a special meeting on Iriday, are conservative, but eontinually rising costs i^ake it, necessar'y that they be so if there is to be any margin of safety in DUdgetting. R,oad. sealing will be principally' confined to- main highways, those set down for attention being the* reconsruction and possible sealing of two miles of Heatherlea-Foxton Road, via 'Koputaroa, and the reconstruction and sealing of two and a-nalf "miles of ShannpnMa'ngahao main highway.. . On ihe receipts side the, year starts with a credit balance of £5061,. The general rate of l-15/64d in the £ is estimated to; iroduce £21,325, while the other items of revenue are GOvemment subsidy on rates £2400, heavy traffic fees £2000, motor drivers' lieences £350, arrears on general ate £250 and miscellaneous £2500, i total of £33,886. Estimated expenditure totals 133,886. The chief items are maintenance and canstruction vork on district roads £13,90.0, interest on loans , £71.67, main highways maintenance and " conitruction £4979 and salaries £3100. Among the smaller items is provision of £200 to cover the expenses of the election in November of this year. Who Should Pay Commenting on the estimates, he ehairman, Mr. G. A. Monk, eferring to the development of "dustless" roads, stressed the liability of the user to pay more toards their formation and maintenance. One matrer which was vividly before the council was .'•oading reconstruction, said Mr. Honk. The .question which naturally arose was whether the - courii could proceed fast enough and satisfactorily enough with the. sealing of district r.oads from revenue. The sealing of roads vhich were of universal benefit was providing a problem. "There are many outsiders who invade our county, and we welcome them, but it raises the quesfion of how roads should be inanced. Should the county shoulder all the load, or should the cravelling public contribute. It is i matter that requires careful eonsideration.'l The . Counties1 Association had a plan whereby 11 roads other than main highways should be subsidised £ for £, this subsidy to come from the petrol tax. The difficulty of replacing gradmg machinery and equipment was also referred to by Mr. Monk. This was proving more costly ^very year, he said, besides' which the" machinery was difiieult :o obtain. The keeping up of maintenance on roads had been difficul-t over the past year, and it would be very great during the coming year. "I can see great difficulties facing us. It is hard to keep pace wirh the roads." The council's machinery and plant maintenance account had been kept fairly well up, and would to some extent replace a eertain amount of machinery, but then there was the question of availability of such equipment. He eonsidered it was necessary for the public to know the problems the council had to face. In the near future, however, machinery would be available, perhaps in two or three years' time. The council would then have to seriously consider raising a loan to seal at least the main roads. Mr. Monk touching again on the question of "dustless" roads, stated that he eonsidered it could not be done satisfactorily or quickiy enough out of revenue, and that some other avenue such as the raising of a loan was the only ■ other alternative. For the satisfactory position of the general account he accredited the fact that moneys defived from the hiring out of machinery to all jobs went into the fund, put df which the costs were paid and the surplus went to the replacernent of machinery. "If the credit balance has been reduced we have something to.show for it. It .will still be further reduced, but We will have even more to show for it. He complimented the engineer and his staff on the work they had done. Cr. A. J. Gimblett: The engineer and staff Ijave something to be proud of. With few exceptions the roads are in good condition. Commenting further, Cr. Gimblett said the position in regard to the payment for road maintenance was akin to the hospital rating. The land was being made a "chopping block" by all users.