THE HIGHWAYS SUBSIDY

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1926, Page 5

THE HIGHWAYS SUBSIDY

A CURIOUS ARRANGEMENT. BOROUGH COUNC1LS PENAL1SED.J' A curious anomaly in regard to the payment of highway subsidies to Borough Councils for the maintenance of the' portions of main highway® under their jurisdiction was brought before the Blenheim Borough Couneil last evening, a,s the result of inquii'ies made from the Highways Couneil at Nelson by the Town Clerk (Mr T. F. Bull), Replying to a letter from the Town Clerk, Mr L. May, the Highways Board' s represen t ative, stated that anv subsicly payable to tlie Borough Couneil was based upon the Marlborough Gounty Councils' rate of expenditure on the main highways in proximity to the Borough. The Town Clerk said he had ascertained that, tliough eertain amounts were allowed in the Highways Board's estimates for tlie upkeep of highways within the Borough by way of subsidy to the Counoil's cx]ienditure, the actual amonut pald to the Boiough was not based upon its own expenditure on these particular rqads, but upon the expenditure of the C'ounty Couneil on tlie roads outside the Borough. Members of tlie Couneil eharacterised this arrangement as ridiculous, and it was cleciclcd to forward a protest against the system, and also to franie a reuiit for consideration at the next meeting of the Municipal Asoociation. Councillor P. S. Boyes • po-inted out that unless the County was engaged in expenditure on its roads, tlie Borough would not- gain any subsidy for money which it expencled. His VYorship the M ayor (Mr M.. McKenzie) said the way in which the money was apportioiiecl was nothing short of ahsurd. If the Borough s'pent money this year on its portion of the highways, and tlie County chq.se to spend nothing, the Borough would get nothing hv way of snhsidy ;ancl next year. if the Borough spent nothing and the County spcnt a good deal, the Borough would still get nothing. — (Laughter) .