A ROADING SCHEME

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1926, Page 2

A ROADING SCHEME

TO COST £180,000. PROPOSALS BY OTAGO MOTOR. CLUB.

[Press Association.]

DUNEDIN, Oct. 1. A schehie which niet with the tentative approval of local body representatives present was pufc. foi'ward by Mr Ansell, ■ presideht of the Motor Club, last night. The seheme provides a basis of finance_for improving and tar-sealing about 75 miles of roads approaching

tlie city north and south, also the Portobello and Port Chalmers Roads. The total c-ost is estimated at £180,000. The Higlnvays Board contrihution will be £90,000, tlie counties would eontribute £33,000, and motorists £57,000. Mr Ansell pointed out that the Highwavs Board would grant loans up to £50,000 for reconstruction, and the counties coulcl avail themselves oi this souroe. Local bodies would be saved £1400 annually on the present maintenanoe costs, or 4j per c-ent. 011 the capital expenditure involved for tliem in the schenie. Motorists would cover their sliare (£57,000) by a speeial annual tax of £2 per veliicle, estimated to produce £12,000 annually, ,,so that, assuming the expenditure to take: plaee over two yeai-s, the wholo aniount would be repaid in about 5-i years. For security for the loan £57,000 which would have to be raised oii account of users, a special loan area would have to be declared. A formal rat© would be struck over that area to cover the security, but it would aever require to be collected. The ' propovsal was to have the special motor -tax cpllected through the Post Office with the annual registration fees. The Hon. K. S. Williams had expressed his interest in the proposals, saying he would give them further consideration when supplied with fuller details and with the views of the bodies interested.