THE ROADS CONSTRUCTION BILL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2276, 19 July 1881, Page 3

THE ROADS CONSTRUCTION BILL.

[By TsiiBSBAPH.] [feom the own cobbhspondeht of tub "PRBBS."] WELLINGTON, July 18. Major Atkinson's Boad Construction Bill is just out. It proceeds strictly on the lines laid down in the financial statement, so that its contents are mostly anticipated. The Roads Construction Board is to consist of the Minister for Public Works and three persons annually eleoted by the House of Representatives by ballot, on a day fixed by the Speaker. Casual vaoanoies are to be filled up by similar elections, but if Parliament is in recess then the Speaker shall nominate acting members, to hold office until the session. Members of the Board are not disqualified by reasons of being ratepayers interested, and do not come within the provisions of the Disqualification Acts, even if entitled to payment in respect of their services, whether as salary or for travelling expenses. The Board, to be a oomplete body, may elect a chairman and make by-laws subject to approval by the Colonial Treasurer. £150,000 of the loan of 1879 is to be credited to the Board on main road account. All moneys reoeived from the sale of Crown lands are to be charged with the expenses of surveys administration of Crown lands and with bll sums paid for rates on Crown lands under the Crown and Native Lands Bating Act, 1871. £150,000 of the land fund is to be credited to the Board on main road s account. The Board by resolution published in the " Gazette " may at any time declare which roads are main roads for the purposes of the Act, but no such resolution shall have any effeot till after a resolution of the House has been passed approving the game. County Councils are to have like powers over main roads as over county roads. When a Council desires aid estimates and plans are to be prepared, and the estimates, &c., are to be submitted to the Board when the application is made. The Board is to grant the application if it has funds. A poll of ratepayers is to be taken, and if the result be favorable a special rate is to be levied. A Council may take up debenture before they are due. After the poll and delivery of debentures the Board is to pay over the money. If the Council will find one-fourth tho Board may pay over three-fourths without a poll, &o. £IOO,OOO of the loan of 1879 is to be credited to the Board on district roads and river works account. The Board may borrow £IOO,OOO for district roads, &c, account outjof the trust funds of the post-office or annuities or sinking fund, the Board to give debentures for the sums borrowed at 5 per cent., secured on the consolidated fund. The Board may repay the debentures at any time. Loans may be granted for district roads and river works, repairing extraordinary damage, deemed " Construction," also for the rebuilding of bridges on main roads. The Board shall apply the funds at its disposal equally among local bodies applying for aid, and if it has not funds to satisfy the applications in full the Board may grant aid in such cases pro rata, in such manner as it thinks equitable, providsd that applications in cases of extraordinary damage shall have priority over other applications for aid to construct main or other roads, or river works, and the Board shall be the sole judge as to the nature of the damage and neceßßity for priority. When it appears to any looal bodyjtbat any district, road or river work is for the special benefit of any particular portion of the district in which such looal body has jurisdiction, then such body may, by special resolution, define such portion of the district, and the poll above referred to shall only be taken of tho ratepayers of such portion, and a special rate shall only be levied on the ratepayers of such particular The Board shall only refuse, and shall be entitled to refuse, any application made under this Act upon one or other of the following grounds : (1) That there is no money then available ; (2) that the applicants have not complied with the terms of the Act ; but refusal on one occasion shall not preclude a further application at a future date; and as far as may be consistent with the terms of the Act, all such rejected applications shall have priority if renewed or allowed to stand over. One or more local bodies may make a joint application for aid under this Act, and for the construction of a road of which there are portions in each of their districts, and the Board may apportion an advance amongst suoh local bodies in such way as shall be agreed upos. The _ amount of the special rate may similarly be apportioned. Where any road, the construction of which is to be effected by moneys pro-

Ivided by this Aot, lies lengthways on the boundary of the districts of two or more local bodies, such road shall be constructed by the local bodies in such equitable manner as the Board shall direet. Members of a local body shall be personally liable for improper dealings with the money. The Board is to report yearly to the General Assembly. There are elaborate provisions for taking a poll of the ratepayers, for making and ooJlecting the speoial rate, for the appointment of a reoeiver in oaee of the default of payment of any sums secured as above, provided b> debentures, &e. Notice is to be given by the Commissioner to the looal body when Crown lands are about to be sold in the district. The cost of the roads is to be added to the price of the land, and the local body is to construct roads with the moneys so added to the price, advanced out of the Consolidated Fund before the whole of the land is sold.