ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 16 March 1912, Page 5

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

QUESTION OP GOVERNMENT GEANTS. IBy Teleeraoli.—l'res» Auoslitlon.l Christchurch, March 15.' Mr. G. W. Russell, M.P., speaking at a function at which the first sod was turned of Page's Road, leading to New Brighton, for widening which the State made a grant of .£250, said it was a question as to how far the State should bo called upon to assist local bodies without such l bodies being called upon to do something themselves. Looking through last year's statement, he found there wore over 3000 roads assisted by Government grants, and he assumed not one copper was found by the people concerned. Tho time would 'come when Parliament would require to exercise a much closer grin upon the financo than had been done during the past 25 or SO years. The question must bo raised whether when Parliament voted money thero should not bo some responsibility on those benefiting to nay the money back. Thero were practically no public works in Canterbury, where the roads and bridges were completed many years ago, yet the people of Canterbury were being taxed up the opening up of the North Island and other parts of tho Dominion whero settlement had not gono on so rapidly, and had to assist in finding interest and sinking fnnd on expenditure from which they received no benefit.