ft.—4o,

The principal points emerging from the 1937-38 figures as compared with those for the previous year are as follows : — Loan-moneys. This item shows a large increase of £1,050,000 over the previous year's figures and now represents 29 per cent, of the total money expended. For 1936-37 this figure represented 22-5 per cent, of the total, while in 1930-31 it represented 30 per cent. Local Rates. The increase in expenditure under this heading is only £80,000, the item now representing 24-2 per cent, of the total expenditure. In 1936-37 the proportion of the total taken by this item was 27-7 per cent. Employment Taxation. The expenditure under this heading has been maintained at approximately the 1936-37 figure, and represents 6-7 of the total road bill. General Taxation. This item has advanced by £128,000 and comprises 12-4 per cent, of the total, against 13-2 per cent, in 1936-37 and 14-5 per cent, in 1935-36. Motor-taxation. Next to loan-moneys this item is the chief source of moneys for expenditure on roads, some £339,000 more having been spent in the year under review than in the previous year. The proportion of expenditure from this source represents 27-7 per cent., against 28-9 per cent, in the previous year. General. The following table indicates the approximate percentages of the various sources of revenue comprised in the total expenditure on roads during the five years ended 31st March, 1938

(2) ANNUAL CHARGES PER MILE ON ROADS, STREETS, ETC., 1934-38. The following table show's the annual expenditure for the live years ended 31st March, 1938, on the various classes of roads, &c., computed per mile of road and/or street

Tables Nos. 5 and 6 of tlie Appendix shows the lengths of various classes of roads, streets, and bridges during the years from 1922 to 1938, inclusive.

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™ - ■ • I tcm . 1933-34. 1934-35. 1935-36 1936-37. 1937-38. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. L oan 9-8 10-8 14-0 22-5 29-0 Local ratea .. .. 32-9 30'2 30-3 27-7 24'2 Unemployment taxation .. 21-3 19-1 12-5 7-7 6-7 General taxation .. .. 16 - 0 14-8 14-5 13-2 12-4 Motor-taxation .. .. 20-0 25-1 28-7 28-9 27-7 Total .. 100-0 100-0 100-0 100-0 100-0

Annual Charges per Mile of Road. Year ended Length of Class of Road. 31st March, Formed Roads. Interest and T . , Maintenance. Loan charges _ Total. J_ , Miles. £ £ £ Main highways .. . • 1934 10,975 87 58 145 1935 11,176 134 55 189 1936 11,649 140 52 192 1937 11,684 113 52 165 1938 11,728 126 55 181 Urban roads and streets .. 1934 4,086 97 143 240 1935 4,035 97 137 234 1936 4,059 100 143 243 1937 4,177 102 137 239 1938 4,201 110 138 248 Other roads .. .. 1934 36,010 20 32 52 1935 36,947 26 31 57 1936 36,350 30 31 61 1937 36,467 28 29 57 1938 36,699 32 31 63 Total, all roads .. 1934 51,071 41 46 87 1935 52,158 55 44 99 1936 52,058 60 44 104 1937 52,328 53 43 96 193 52,628 59 45 104