THREATENED STOPPAGE OF APPROPRIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3985, 17 August 1929, Page 1

THREATENED STOPPAGE OF APPROPRIATION.

TO HIGHWAYS BOARD. MAY CURTAIL HIGHWAYS SCHEME. STATEMENT BY COUNTY CLERK. The reported statement of the Prime Minister that he did not intend to appropriate the £200,000 out of the Public Woiks fund for highways during the present year, was the subject of a (report presented by the county treasurer (Mr. A. Iv. Drew) to Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council. This body has a comprehensive highways improvement scheme un- ' der way and any interference with the finance provided by the Highways Board for the work is likely to seriously inconvenience the council. Already, the council has received notice from the Highways Board that it cannot sanction the completion of the Awahuri-Mt. Stewart highway tar-sealing until the Main Highways estimates have been finalised. The report presented to the Coun - cil was as follows: —“I would like to draw your attention to one or two matters which are of grave concern to county councils and other local bodies at the present time, firstly, is the statement of the P(rime Minister that the Government does not intend to appropriate any money out of the Public Works fund for highways during the present year. If the usual grant is not made, all highways works will be curtailed, which will be a serious matter to those bodies which have an extensive programme in progress. It will certainly be a very serious matter for our county, as we have taken on liabilities and obligations on the understanding our highways proposals would go straight ahead. If the present work is curtailed or stopped, quite a sum of money (spent on organisation will have been wasted. “The next question is the favourable attitude of the Government towards the formation of a highways board for the South Island. The local bodies and automobile associations of the North Island are showing too much apathy to the movement and it is time they woke up to the position. Oijie regrets very much to hear this c;ry of North v. South for, as a community, our interests are so bound up that surely we can work together for mutual advantage. In last year’s report to the Main Highways Board, it is interesting to note that the local authorities’ contributions towards the actual maintenance of the roads was 3.74 per cent, greater in the North Island than in the South, the percentage of the cost found by the board being £2 18/to £1 in the South Island and £1.84 to £1 in the North Island. With regard to construction costs, the North Island local bodies contributed 38.28 per cent, to the South Island’s 30.17 per cent., a difference of 8.11 per cent. “Wjith regard to the distribution of the petrol tax, statistical figures which have been published in the press show that 72 per cent, of the total tax is paid in the North Island and 28 per cent, in the South Island and the Main Highways .Board apportions this revenue at the rate of 70 per cent, to the North and 30 per cent, to the South Island. In view of the pettrol tax, the question of allocation of other motor taxes will bear investigation. Under section 21 of the Main Highways Board Act, the license fees and tyre tax are apportioned between (the two islands in ratio to the number of motor vehicles in each. The Main Highways Board has in the past therefore apportioned the amount of 60 per cent, to the North Island and 40 per cent, to the (South Island. Reference to the statistics of motor vehicles registered shows that the ratio of motor vehicles registered in the South' Island in proportion to other motor vehicles is far greater than , in the North and also that the percentage of commercial vehicles is much less. This being so, why should not a reshuffle take place; the tyre tax and license fees being allocated on the same basis as the petrol tax? “The nature of the roads in the North Island and the class of country is very hail’d on tyres and if an accurate account of the tyre tax could be kept, as paid between the two islands, the chances are that the South Island would not be allocated the 40 per cent, as at present. If the South Island desires a highways board of its own, then tho North Island should see that it gets its pound of flesh and no more.” “That’s the position as we know it at present and I think we ought to make our protest,” said Cr. Barber.

“The report states the position clearly and I think we ought to support the protest of the auto-

mobile associations. The stopping of this vote to the Highways Board funds will certainly affect the finances of the board and a protest should be entered. The council agreed without further discussion to register a protest.