HIGHWAYS THROUGH BOROUGH.

Shannon News, 25 May 1928, Page 3

HIGHWAYS THROUGH BOROUGH.

■» RETROSPECTIVE SUBSIDY WANTED. As the result of a request made by Cr Hutehings at a previous meeting, the Town Clerk (Mr H, L. Jenkins) reported at last night's meeting of the Levin Borough Council that he had written to every borough with a population under 6000, to ascertain what its position was in regard to main highway construction. The point at issue was that, where-as-highways constructed through ■ bor- \ oughs prior to January 26th last were made wholly at the expense of the boroughs concerned, those constructed since that time are entitled to subsidies from the Highways Board. The opinion of the Council was that Such grants to boroughs should be % retrospective. The Town Clerk stated that he :bad written to 92 , Borough Councils ;and received 62 replies. Of this number, 34 were either in the same position as the Levin borough, or were willing to support it in representations to the Government. A lot of them did not have permanent work at all —only taraealing. Three outstanding cases ol road expenditure were quoted by the Clerk. Otahuhu, prior to January 26th, was not receiving any , money 'on ' account of maintenance because its roads, were constructed of concrete, at its own expense, £20,000 being spent. A request for a subsidy for bitumen shoulders was refused. Rotorua, prior to January, was receiving subsidy on the amount of maintenance payable on the basis of county roads adjoining. The Rotorua Borough Council spent £12,000 on bitumenising what were now declared main highways. The Board informed it that, an increased subsidy eould not be paid on any works done prior to January. Featherston received £ for £ maintenance, but as the work was done before February it was informed that it was not entitled to anything for construction. - On the motion of Cr Hutehings, it was decided to write to those boroughs;; that are in the same position as Levin, with a view to taking concerted action to obtain relief, and that they be asked to secure the support of their members of Parliament to the representa- . tions.