ALLOCATION OF GRANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1929, Page 6

ALLOCATION OF GRANTS

BACKBLOCIvS ROADS WILL BENEFIT.

"WELLINGTON, August 29'.

Speaking as a North Auckland member, representing a district alleged to be prejudiced by the new system of road grant allocation, Air Murdoch (Marsden) assured the House that lie was satisfied liis constituents would get a fair and reasonable proportion of the £75,000 available: They would actually get more money than previously; and the system would give more elasticity in meeting cases of backblocks roads where county councils were unable to spend money. Mr Coates: What about my constituency ? . Mr Murdoch: Yours, I hope, will get the same treatment. Air Alurdocli added that the elasticity of the new system was a bit of consideration for any district, especially those with clay roads. . He had no doubts about the system, though the Alinistcr of Works, as a reasonable man, would no doubt be prepared to reconsider the matter if tho weight of evidence was against his allocation, and lie would make a revision. Road development had gone on with concrete and bitumen as materials, but he hoped members would use all their influence to sway the Highways Board towards the use of concrete, . which was wholly of New Zealand origin. He quoted details of imports, showing that last year bitu.men valued at £132,144 was purchased from outside New Zealand. H would have been far better to keep that money in the country. These wore matters which the Highways Board and Transport Board must consider, because be was surt that the money would be spent more economically. Attention must also be aiven to proper limitation of loads on highways. '