ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5195, 26 October 1927, Page 3

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

DEPARTMENT’S ACTIVITIES; YEAR’S EXPENDITURE £1,200,00C. Included in the annual statement presented by the Minister,, of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) is an interesting article on road construction, in which it is stated :— “As has been the casei during the past eight or nine years, expenditure on road construction during the last year again a large inthe amount expended being the highest so far recorded by the department. During the year 1925-26 the expenditure almost touched the £1,000,000 mark, but last| year that mark was exceeded by a substantial amount, and a figure never before - reached on this section of the department’s activities was passed. “As mentioned in my statement last last year, the primary development in any country is by roading, and the figures just quoted will show the great progress that has been made towards the opening-up ofi back country for developmental purposes, and also in the improvements to existing roads, which should ultimately be reflected in the increased productivity of the country served. “Regarding the opening-up of thq back country, I have previously mentioned that an effort was being made to devise some scheme whereby those outlying and isolated districts would receive the special consideration in the way of provision of reasonable access they undoubtedly deserve, and, ast already disclosed, it has been possible to set aside a substantial sum this year for that purpose. The ex- • penditure- of this amount should to a very groat extent alleviate the difficulties under which the backblock settlers are at present labouring as a result of the sparsely populated areas not providing sufficient rates to enable the local bodies to undertake necessary roading- At the same time

it will effect a dps'red improvement in- t,he system of automatically allocating tne funds under the Roads vote by enabling provision to be made for those sparsely settled districts in excess of what they are entitled to on a basis of allocation, which must, take

into account such factors as population, rateable values, etc. For next year the factors will be reviewed in an endeavour to .make the automatic allocation still nearer the actual re-

quirements of the various districts;.

“During the; year a large- number, of roads and tracks were completed to a standard sufficient for present requirements and handed . over to the control of the various local bodies throughout the Dominion. The policy of placing these roads and tracks under thq control of the local bodies immediately they are completed to a width and standard considered sufficient to meet the present requirements of the district served has been in existence or some years, but on several occasions recently certain local authorities have protested against having to accept control of roads before they are constructed to full width. These protests] have arisen irom a misunderstanding by those bodies of the future attitude of the department in respect to such roads. The handing over of a road when formed to a width of, say, 6ft, does not mean that the local body to which it has been handed over will have to finance the whole cost of future* improvements, nor does it preclude the Government from assisting with maintenance. In the event of the local authority being unable to bear the total cost of maintenance, it is at liberty to apply for Government acsistance. Applications of this nature are considered on their merits, if circumstances warrant it, and, funds are available, assistance is granted. When the requirements of the districts served justify the cost of widening or metalling, an application from the controlling authority will be considered in the same manner and appropriate; financial assistance grantedThis policy is only reasonable when it is remembered that local bodies collect the rates from the properties served, and in the event of the department retaining control until the roads, are completed to full standard the Government would be called upon in the meantime to carry the burden of maintenance without cost to the local bodies, while those bodies would be in a position to expend the rates elsewhere.

“The expenditure on the restoration of flood damage was, unfortunately, high, owing to exceptional floods during the latter part of the year in many parts of the country, though the country did not suffer so severely as during the previous year. However, in several cases one disastrous flood was followed at a short interval by a second, and in tihese instances the, Government was called upon to provide liberal assistance as the local bodies’ resources were in some cases exhausted, and in other?; very much depleted. Nevertheless, the funds available under this heading were judiciously administered to avoid approving grants where local bodies were in a position to reasonably meet the liability or where damage was caused or intensified by want of adequate maintenance.”