H,— 4o

The following table shows the expenditure under the various headings for the three years ended 31st March, 1936 : —

The principal points emerging from the figures for the years ended 31st March, 1935, have been commented upon in previous annual reports. The figures for 1935-36, as compared with those of the previous year, are commented on below (1) Maintenance. (a) Main Highways. —Expenditure on this item during 1935-36 increased by £130,000. The moneys expended by the Main Highways Board on maintenance increased by £90,000, while county expenditure on main highways maintenance out of revenue increased by £40,000. (b) Other Roads. —Expenditure under this head increased by £142,000 due to County Councils increasing their expenditure out of revenue by £106,000 and to the Public Works increasing their expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund. (2) Construction. (a) Main Highways.—This item has increased by £197,000, of which the increase in Main Highways Board expenditure accounts for £146,000 and the increase in County Council payments for the balance, £30,000 being loan-moneys and £15,000 being unemployment-relief expenditure. (b) Urban Roads and Streets—This item has decreased by £40,000, mainly due to a decrease in borough payments on construction out of loan. (c) Other Roads—A decrease of £70,000 is shown under this heading, due largely to a decrease in Public Works Department expenditure by £65,000. Public Works expenditure from the unemployment funds decreased by £137,000, but expenditure from the Public Works Fund increased by £72,000. (3) Loan Charges. The increases under this head have been due to an increase in interest and sinking-fund charges to the rates ruling in 1933-34. (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: —

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I I I _ 1933-34. 1934-35. ' 1935-36. ) Maintenance — £ £ 5 Main highways .. .. •• 954,656 1,501,539 1,632,453 Urban roads and streets .. .. 397,371 392,032 406,775 Other roads .. .. 718,943 955,994 1,098,366 Total .. .. •• 2,070,970 2,849,565 3,137,594 Construction —• Main highways .. .. •• 286,709 428,072 624,943 Urban roads and streets .. .. 1,104,047 944,235 903,918 Other roads .. .. •• 1,240,920 1,172,529 1,102,730 Total .. .. •• 2,631,676 2,544,836 2,631,591 Interest and sinking fund charges — Main highways .. .. •• 632,846 612,129 605,403 Urban roads and streets .. .. 585,900 554,400 580,979 Other roads 1,136,070 1,136,515 1,122,408 Total .. .. •• 2,354,816 2,303,044 2,308,790 Total annual road bill — Main highways .. .. •• 1,874,211 2,541,740 2,862,799 Urban roads and streets .. .. 2,087,318 1,890,667 1,891,672 Other roads 3,095,933 3,265,038 3,323,504 Total .. .. .. 7,057,462 7,697,445 8,077,975

I ! Interest and Loan ' Maintenance. Construction. Charges. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. 1933-34 .. .. .. ■■ 29-3 37-3 33-4 1934-35 37-0 33-1 29-9 1935-36 .. .. •• 3 8 " 8 32 ' 6 28 ' 6