HONEY FOR ROADS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 20 July 1929, Page 7

HONEY FOR ROADS

ALLOCATION ALTERED

“NO POLITICAL FAVOURS”

(By Telegraph) (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, 19th July. New proposals regarding the automatic allocation of reading votes were outlined, by the Minister of Public. Works (tme Hon. E. A. Ransom) in the House of Representatives to-day. He said he had no intention of departing from the present system, but lie intended to vary the incidence of allocations, at the same time reducing the ’money available from £421,000 to £400,000. It was an honest attempt on the part of the Government to live within the coun. try's means. It was felt that £400,000 would meet the roading requirements of the country. Certain districts had been receiving advantageous treatment during the past few years and other districts had suffered in consequence. In view of that he thought it was his duty to amend the system of allocating and endeavour to give fair treatment to all. In some districts there were large areas of land- which were not loaded and never would be roaded and should not com« into the calculation on which tiie allocations were based. He had also removed the consideration of populations. Previously areas with a big population had an extra amount allocated to them owing to that population. The districts that had the ’greatest population, were the districts which were best able to look after their own roading system and the more sparsely populated' districts needed the greatest measure of assistance. He had also removed the consideration of paper roads ri which no special value sliould be ed when allocations were being ihade. The deductions which lie had made in respect of these items had been added to other items.

Metalled or surfaced roads previously had a value of £50,000 put upon them, . but he had increased that amount to £IOO,OOO. The amount previously allowed in respect of local body loans was £50,000, but he had raised the amount to £IOO,OOO. The estimated amount required to complete all roads as metalled roads had been fixed at £375,000 and - the estimated value of Crown and Native Land suitable for settlement had also been fixed at that figure. % Mr Ransom said that no attempt would be made to distribute political favours as had been going on in the past three years, and he gave figures evidencing over generous allocations in tile Wbangarei district, including the late Prime Minister’s electorate, the total amounting to £289,995 for that district alone. If it could be shoWn that any political favours were being handed out under his new scheme Mr Ransom ■aid he would have it put right.