H.—4o.

(2) Construction. There has been an increase in expenditure on main-highway construction, but decreases in the other two sections. The decrease of approximately £160,000 in the case of urban roads and streets is due to further reductions in the expenditure of boroughs on construction and maintenance. (3) Loan Charges. The slight decreases are due principally to a fall in the rate of loan charges against boroughs as compared with the previous year. (4) Total Road Bill. The following table, showing the percentages of the total expenditure on maintenance, construction, and interest and loan charges, is of interest: —

(b) Sources of Money expended on Road Bill, 1930-35. The Department has also analysed the expenditure on roads during the five years ended 31st March, 1935, in order to ascertain the sources from which the money expended has been derived. The following table shows, under five main headings, the sources of revenue expended on (a) main highways, (b) urban roads, (c) other roads, and (d) all types of roads :—

The principal points emerging from the 1934-35 figures as compared with those of previous years are as follows :— (1) Loan-money. This item shows an increase of £140,000 over the previous year's figure, and now represents 114 per cent, of the total money expended. This is still in marked contrast to the year 1930-31, when this item represented almost 30 per cent, of the total.

12

Maintenance. Construction. Interest and Loan Charges. PerCent. PerCent. PerCent. 1930-31 ........ 34 40 26 1931-32 ........ 32 39 29 1932-33 ........ 29 37 34 1933-34 ........ 30 36 34 1934-35 .. .. .. .. 36 32 32

1930-31. 1931-32. 1932-33. 1933-34. 1934-35. Main highways — £ £ £ £ i £ Loan .. .. .. .. 530,574 455,296 37,472 237,469 360,118 Local rates .. .. .. 591,618 494,341 428,998 431,262 471,851 Unemployment-taxation.. .. .. 55,073 60,259 53,032 42,586 General taxation .. .. 146,274 141,823 124,176 147,342 134,955 Motor-taxation .. .. .. 1,492,228 1,232,581 1,091,402 958,611 1,277^791 Total .. .- .. 2,760,694 2,379,114 1,742,307 1,827,716 2,287,301 Urban roads— Loan .. .. .. .. 450,885 330,114 122,417 70,291 71,307 Local rates .. .. .. 1,497,721 1,405,383 1,291,683 1,153,032 1,072,108 Unemployment-taxation.. .. 75,000 510,000 660,000 616,278 475,306 General taxation Motor-taxation.. .. .. 251,038 263,012 246,365 247,717 271,946 Total ■■ •• ■■ 2,274,644 2,508,509 2,320,465 2,087,318 1,890,667 Other roads — Loan .. .. .. .. 1,608,680 1,145,567 412,470 381,090 398,371 Local rates .. .. .. 1,121,923 841,313 798,805 734,844 781,010 Unemployment-taxation.. .. 39,102 281,242 677,227 675,524 587,469 General taxation .. .. 900,060 966,757 900,750 927.750 941'215 Motor-taxation.. .. .. 242,468 462,736 226,023 385' 689 Tot al 3,912,233 3,697,615 3,015,275 2,930,166 3,093,754 All roads— Loan 2,590,139 1,930,977 572,359 688,850 829,796 Local rates .. .. .. 3,211,262 , 2,741,037 2,519,486 2,319,138 2,324,969 Unemployment-taxation.. .. 114,102 846,315 1,397,486 1,344,834 1,105 361 General taxation .. .. 1,046,334 1,108,580 1,024,926 l'076J70 Motor-taxation.. .. .. 1,985,734 1,958,329 1,563,790 1,417,286 1,935 '426 TotaI - ■■ 8,947,571 8,585,238 7,078,047 6,845.200 7,271,722