Road Maintenance Costs Simply Colossal

Chronicle (Levin), 14 July 1949, Page 6

Road Maintenance Costs Simply Colossal

.. The cost - of maintaining the county's roadways to'day was simply colossal, said Cr. J. D. Aitchison when speaking at the estimates meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Wednesday. S.ome £29,000 was colle'cted from the ratepayers and other sources which, plus subsidies, brought the council's revenue up to £51,000. The upheep of the roads was one of the major items of expenditure and it was in-

creasmg yearly. He wondered what fche councillors of yesterday would say if they could come back and see the terrifying expenditure necessary today. 1 Yet no money was being wasted, he continued. The expenditure was definitely called for and the council's finances were in as good a position, . if not better, than most other counties. Rec.essibn talk seemed to be taboo, but night had followed "day so far and he. some--times wondered, if a recession came, how the finances could be brought back to What theyi'used to be. Although he appreciated Cr.

Aitchison's observations, it had to! be realised that the value of the £1 today was not much, said the chairman, Mr. A." M. Co.quhoun'. One had to get dowh to that hasis. "I agree that a recession must come, but we will get througb. it in the same way as we. didrlast time." The high expenditure wa:s not the council's fault, but Was based largely on the value of ■ the £i and theHntroduction of the 4Q.-hour week.