ROAD GRANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1929, Page 2

ROAD GRANTS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. A U TOM AT I C A WELLINGTON, July 19. An explana-ion of the new system of automatic road grant allocation was given in the,House of Representatives this afternoon oy the Minister for Public Works (the Hon Mr Ransom). Mr Ransom said that it had been stated that it was the Government’s intention to do away with the allocation of the road vote of New Zealand. This was not the case. What was intended was to vary the incidence of that system. Last year’s amount availaoie w.ats £424,000, but this year it had been found necessary to reduce the Mini to £400,0j0, this representing an honest.attempt on the part of the Government' to live within its means, and at the same time to provide for a;l requirements of the year. Variations in the system included removal of allocations on an area basis, which he considered was not a fair claim on the road vote. Another heading under wli ch there had been a change was the population basis. In the past road districts with larger populations had received a special allocaticn. He considered that these wore the districts that were best able to look after their own reading system. “Paper roads” had also been removed from the allocations. These were roads originally planned, hut never completed, and in many cases not even known to residents of Ihe districts in which they had existed. These were only factors removed from the allocations, and the money thereby saved had been added to the amount available for other items. He intended to double amounts for iqjleage of roads in use, apart from those metalled or surfaced, and for local body loans for roads. Crown and native land suitable for settlement would also he provided for. The new system would not in any way interfere with the fairness of the manner in which nioney was allocated, and there could he no suggestion that political favour could enter into the position.