Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1884. THE ROADS, AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 186, 4 July 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY. ) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1884. THE ROADS, AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT.

This Act would, if it could have lived long enougb* have been of considerable benefit to the colony, and especially to those districts that have not been so. lucky as to have been the recipients of large favors from the Government. Of course there are some places where the allocation of Government grants has been notoriously large. Take Taranaki, for instance, and its proverbial nickname, "lucky Taranaki.*' But to one place so favored there are probably a hundred which ' have great need of money for public works, but are unable to get any at all. To such as these, the Roads jjmd Bridges Construction Act Gomes m as a reliever and a friend- By guaranteeing to pay a quarter of the sum required, the Government pays three-quarters, and advances the whole. Works are thus proceeded with that only require construction to be remunerative of themselves. For instance, the Gorge Bridge. No district could erect a work of such magnitude without some special means of assistance, and yet when the bridge is completed, even under the present existing traffic, it will very easily pay interest on the cost of its construction. It was mentioned at the late meeting at Asliurst that the income derived from the Eerry by the present lessees, was about i? 800 per annum. Now, a sum of would mean a liability of per annum for interest if the whole of that sum were taken up at 10 per cent. This leaves a balance of i? 440 per annum, out of which .£3OO could easily be cleared after paying expenses of collection and repairs. Now this means a sinking fund of over eight per cent., so that the total cost of erection would be repaid within ten years, and this supposing the whole sum to have been borrowed. It may be argued that the same rate of charges would nst be maintained if there were a bridge, which we agree with, as it is not required, since the money will be applied for under the Hoads and Bridges Construction Act, wich makes it a much easier

matter. But, if the capital coulcl not be so obtained, surely every man who at present uses the Ferry would far rather pay the same faro and have a bridge to cross over, and thus avoid delay, and save unloading if he takes a heavy load with him, and not be entirely stopped if the river is m flood ? But, it is to aid districts m which such works as this are urgently required that the Roads and Bridges Construction Act was brought forward, and a very wise measure it would have been but for one little flaw whiph overthrows the whole edifice. T/ie Government have not tlie money to meet tho applications tJud are put m. In the Manawatu County last year no less than £\ 10,000 was applied for out of a possible ,£200,000, and only i? 900 was granted. So that, through this unfortunate flaw, the measure becomes a delusion rather than a benefit, for it only tempts local bodies to go to the expense of plans, surveys and estimates, to be met with a refusal, or be granted only a very, small portion of the sum required for the work. It is to be hoped, however, that the .£3,600 now being applied for for the bridge will receive the careful consideration of the Government before it is refused or only partially granted. Government should bear m mind that such a bridge as this should really come under the heading of works which it is the duty of the State to undertake, and if the ratepayers are willing, as they are, to stretch a point and partially pay for its construction, the work should be more commend itsejf to their notice. It is probable that the Act will cease operations after the ensuing session, as without the hopes of being able to meet applications, it could but be a dead letter.