MORE MAIN ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 71, 20 September 1930, Page 11

MORE MAIN ROADS

HIGHWAYS BOARD FINANCE

The Main Highways Board, at its meeting this week, declined a large number of applications from, various districts for the declaration of addi-

tional highways.

The Main Highways Act of 1922 makes provision for an annual review 61 main highways. In March last district highway councils were asked to submit recommendations for the board's consideration. District councils were advised fhat the board did not propose to recommend' any substantial additional mileage for declaration, the board intending merely to review tho present system with a view to adjustment in those cases where an alteration in traffic and other conditions showed that the substitution of some other road or route was justified. District highway councils, however, submitted recommendations for the declaration, of nearly 1300 miles of additional roads, which so far as the board is concerned would involve an annual ■ charge greatly in excess of available funds. The board confined the review to special cases only, and as a result will submit recommendations to the Minister of Public Works involving only an additional 150 miles. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. A statement of accounts submitted to the meeting showed that the revenue for the five months ending 31st August was £821,883, being: From tiro tax, £42,54(3; motor registration and annual licence fees, £322,226, and petrol tax, £447,111. The expenditure against this is £330,000 on general works, together with miscellaneous expenses amounting .to £160,000, which includes the payment of subsidy on rates to local authorities now chargeable.to the main ■highways'.fund,'in accordance with the Finance Act recently brought; . into

force. The liabilities outstanding at the end of tho period amounted to £430,000. The expenditure on construction works ■for the five months was £363,000, while liabilities outstanding at the end of August amounted to £314,000. The board gave final consideration to its annual report covering last year's operations, and the report is now being submitted to rtho Hon. Minister of Public Works for presentation to Parliat ment. The board also gave final consideration to the annual estimates, which will be submitted to Parlaiment in conjunction with the Public Works estimates.