“SERIOUS REDUCTION”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32305, 27 August 1943, Page 5

“SERIOUS REDUCTION”

MAIN HIGHWAYS ALLOCATION PIAKO COUNTY CONCERNED “This is a serious reduction in view of the deterioration of highways owing to us not being able to get labour and material,” said the, chairman of the Piako County Council, Mr D. Johnson, at Monday’s meeting when commenting on a report made by Cr. W. C. Kennedy as the county’s representative on the Highways Board. Cr. Kennedy had said that no new highways were 'being considered and the subsidy to the county would be reduced by four to five hundred pounds this year. In reply to the chairman’s remark, Cr. Kennedy said that that aspect of it had been pointed out to the board. The engineer (Mr B. H. Homer): We were asked to keep it down and we have really ‘been skimping work on our highways to comply with the request. Cr. Kennedy: When the war is over great improvements are planned but at present there is neither labour nor materials. Counties Conference Quoted The chairman then quoted the ser-

ious view- which had been taken by the Counties Conferences £13,000,000 had 'been borrowed and interest at 3S per cent, was being paid on this sum, which meant that of the petrol tax of 14id only 6id was actually available for road purposes.

It was pointed out that of recent sums spent on the construction of roads a great deal had been borrowed and the interest found out of the petrol tax.