More Powers for Highways Board
AMENDMENTS TO ACT
RETRANSFER OF FUNDS (THE .SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The powers of the Main Highways Board are materially strengthened by amendments to the Main Highways Act, which was introduced into the House of Representatives this evening and read a first time. One of the chief provisions, for which the South Island will be grateful, is authority for repayment to revenue account any moneys transferred from it to construction account. This will adjust the grievance of the South Island people who have asked several times for retransfer of the money taken from maintenance and placed into construction fund for expenditure largely in the North Island. The Highways Board is enabled, by the provisions of the Bill, to pay out of its funds money for experimental •work, either construction or maintenance.
When the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, explained tins provision in the House, Mr. T. M. Wltford asked, “Have they any funds Mr. Williams: They might haRR This is in case they have funds. w Mr. E. J. Howard, ChristchuraH South: Well, with the extra foui£ pence a gallon on petrol they shoulfe have some money. Mr. Williams explained that no definite time was allotted for the ment of money from construction to revenue funds, the time and amount being determined by the Minister of Finance after consultation with the board.
The Bill gives the board additional power to stop or suspend payments to local authorities if work delegated to them by the board is not satisfactorily carried out. This money may be withheld till the work is executed.
Subsidies may be granted to borough councils for maintenance and repair of roads that are a continuance of main highways. A clause, which the Minister admitted might cause some discussion, gives local authorities power to borrow money without recourse to a poll of ratepayers for the construction of main highways and bridges not less than 30 feet in length. A resolution by the District Highways Council that a bridge is necessary is required for this provision to operate. *
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SUNAK19271104.2.131
Bibliographic details
Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 193, 4 November 1927, Page 14
Word Count
348More Powers for Highways Board Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 193, 4 November 1927, Page 14
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