EARTHQUAKE AREA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 19

EARTHQUAKE AREA

RESTORATION OF ROADS

THE MOTORISTS' QUOTA

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Pest.")

DUNEDIN, 6th December.

The question of the restoration of roads on; the'"Wcat Coast affected by the earthquake iv June received some attention at .the quarterly mooting of the South Island Motor Union to-d:iy. The president (Air. A. X Ansell, JM.P.) made reference'to a statement made some time ;igo tliat the Highways .li'uml was to bear the whole expense of tlio reconditioning of the West Coast roads. The cost of restoration was them estimated at from £250,000 to £500,000. These figures were regarded by motorists with some concern. A .resolution protesting against this drain 011 the Highways l^und was passed at a previous meeting of the union. Mr. .Ansell stated that he had dis-] cussed the matter with the Minister of j Public Works during the session, and j had had a question ready to ask in the House. The Minister had asked Mr. Ansell to defer the matter in order j that he might discuss it with Cabinet, j Mr. Ansell had complied with the re- I quest, and had since been notified by I Mr. Eansoru that Cabinet had decided j to bear portion of the cost. The ac- j tual proportion to be borne by the Cabinet had not been decided. Mr. Dobson (Canterbury delegate to the union) said that a motorist who I had recently, been..through the district :• affected by the earthquake had stated : that the work of restoration would be i comparatively easy. i A suggestion was made by Mr. Halliday (Otago) that a considerable portion of the cost of restoration sEould be met by the Consolidated Fund, and that the Highways Fund should not^be required i [to provide more than 25 per cent. [ Mr. Furness (Marlborough) was of opinion that, as restoration of the West Coast roads was a matter of national importance, a considerable proportion of the cost should be borne by the Consolidated Fund. It was decided to mention in a letter to ;the , Minister that the restoration of the roadß was a matter for national consideration.