MANUKAU’S PROTEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 747, 21 August 1929, Page 6

MANUKAU’S PROTEST

WITHDRAWAL FROM HIGHWAYS FUNDS COUNCIL’S ACTION Strong opposition met the Government’s proposals to withdraw the annual grants to the Highways Board of £200,000 from the Public Works Fund, and £35,000 from the Consolidated Fund, at yesterday’s meeting of the Manukau County Council. Mr. S. Rickards said that the council shouk indeed object to any such proposals and if the Government desired to economise it could do so in other directions. He moved that a protest against interference with-the main highways fund should be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the member for the district, Mr. A. W. Hall, and the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom. In seconding the motion, Mr. S. W. House brought up the motorists’ points of view, mentioning the contributions they made through the petrol tax. In order that better roads would be provided motorists had agreed to the taxation, and if they had known, at the time that the money would be practically stolen, there would certainly have been trouble, he said. Continuing, Mr. House said that good work had been done, and as a result of the tax a saving had been effected. There would be a great outcry if it was attempted to use the money for other purposes. According to the chairman, Mr. F. M. Waters, the meeting would endorse all that the previous speaker had said. It was the intention of the council to do a great deal of concreting in the Pakuranga riding, but if the Government’s proposal came into force, things would be upset. “It would be wrong in the fullest sense of the word to divert the money to another purpose/* concluded Mr. Waters. A motion of protest was carried unanimously.