MAIN HIGHWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4460, 3 June 1930, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS.

LEVIN- ST IA XN'ON R OUTE. Early completion of the main highways scheme was urged by the chairman (AD 1 . G. A. .Monk) at the

annual meeting of the ITorowlieniia County Council, when lie advised the council to raise the 1(1 per cent, additional money to the original loan of £78,000. The total amount expended to the end of the lasi financial year on the works for which the Highways Board promised the subsidy of £3 for £1 was £35,805, t lie board eontrilml ing £2O, (!!)(] and rbe council £!HOO. The unexpended hahim-e of tile commit men! for the pi e sen I programme is £l7, (Ini, appointed between Hie board and I lie county in Hie amount> of £35,200 and £11,701. During tlie year, paving was completed on the section of No, (ill Highway from the Tokamaru River to Hie north boundary of the county, and on the first three miles of the Levin-Foxton rood. A bunt 32 miles of highways have been constructed in (he county, and last year the interest and sinking fund worked nut at £l-17 per mile. Stress was laid at the inerting on the need for pushing on wit'll Ihe Levin-Shannon highway, and the possibility was mentioned of Ihe Government eontinning the constructional work free' of cost to Ihe county and as a means of unemployment relief. The treasurer’s annual report stated: —“The total amount, of interest and sinking fund paid during ihe year in respect to main highway construction loans amounted lo £4091, or £147 per mile for approximately 32 miles which have been reconstructed, including bridges, and 1) miles of the section of No. 1 Highway now under construeTie>n and for which the balance of .'mm money in baud is available. It is. pleasing to record (hat during the year the first portion of the £12,000 loan for machinery and plant, amounting to £SOOO, was paid off, leaving the balance of £7,000 to lie redeemed in 3937. As the machinery and plant have been self-supporting, it lias not been necessary to call on Ibe general I’nuds for Hie repayment of the first portion .of the loan, and from present indications it appears that sufficient funds will lie in hand for the purpose of meeting the balance of £7,000 when the same becomes due.’’ Afembers of the council advocated the early completion of the undertaking as a further factor in reducing maintenance costs.

The engineer (Air. <J. T. AL. Brewster), in commenting on the main highways works, said he thought that, with a new ‘-Cabinet appointed, the council would hear something in a few days, and lie was fully expecting 1 that there would be further work carried out- on No. (ill Highway. On the recommeiidafion of the finance committee, the chairman and the cledk were authorised to make inquiries in regard to raising £00(10, the ha la nee of the highways construction loan, and £OSOO, the council's contribution to the Alamiwntu (Shannon) bridge and approaches. The chairman stated that the position of the money market at present was not very good. A report, as a result of the inquiries, would be submitted to the council.'