MAIN HIGHWAYS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 249, 19 September 1929, Page 10

MAIN HIGHWAYS

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS OPPOSED.

BY HOROAVHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL. When the Horowhenua County Council met on Saturday matters in connection with the Main Highways Board’s finance were discussed. It was decided to protest against the Government’s Budget proposals in this connection. It was also decided to oppose the creation of • a South Island Highways Board. The Canterbury Progress League wroto pointing out that it was apparent that there was no provision m the Budget either for the statutory minimum payment of £200,000 a year from the Public Works Fund to the Highways Construction Fund or lor the statutory minimum payment of £35,000 a year to the highways llevenuo Fund. There had been a suggestion that past grants made under Ejection 10 of the Main Highways Act, 1922,- from the Public Works Fund to the main highways construction account should be regarded as loans on the total of which the board should pay interest. The letter stressed the point that the motor-using public already paid their full share of general taxation. They paid also heavy Customs taxation on motor vehicles and parts, estimated to amount to well over £1,250,000 a year, which was used as general taxation for general purposes. In addition to this genet al taxation, they were paying t/pceial taxation in license fees, tyre tax, petrol tax, etc., estimated to amount now to well over £1,250,000 a year, and this taxation was imposed and accepted on the express understanding that it would be used only lor the one specific purpose, as a means whereby the motor-using public might rendei substantial financial assistance to the counties in' constructing and maintaining highways fit to carry presentday motor traffic. The chairman (Cr. Monk) said lie understood that the £35,U00 fP a nt from the Consolidated Fund would be renewed, because the Government bad no statutory authority to do' otherwise. There was nothing in the Act, however, to stop them front charging interest on the £200,000. The Prime Minister told the board that it would have to cut down its expenditure, and it did so, reducing the allocations from £750,000 to £550,000. Then he informed the board that it would have to pay interest on the £200,000, not only this year, but in respect of such grants in the past. Mr Field, M.P., had moved in the matter in the House by tabling a question, and he (the chairman) had been in touch witli him. Cr. Monk added that he did not see any reason why the council should not, on general lines, support the attitude of the Canterbury Progress League. Cr. Gimblett expressed the opinion that, if various bodies had not protested, the Prime Minister would have endeavoured to deprive the Highways Board of the £200,000 grant. On the motion of Cr. Catley, seconded by Cr. Gimblett, it was decided to support the Canterbury Progress League’s protest. A circular was received from the Counties’ Association conveying the opinion of the executive, after a meeting at which , representatives of both islands were present, that the creation of a separate Highways Board for the South Island would be neither ttecessarv nor desirable, nor would any benefit accrue to the South Island or to the administration of the highway policy of the Dominion. The hope was expressed that the council would support this view. The chairman stated that, as this council’s representative at the meeting, ho had supported that view. Another Highways Board would simply add to the cost of administration. He did not know that the proposal had the whole-hearted support of the motorists. It was purely a motorists’ movement in the South Island, and did not have the support of the whole of the counties in that island. The Prime Minister had promised legislation. It would not affect the North Island much, but there would be two costs of administration, and if the system were broken down by two boards it might weaken the Highways Act. The position was that the South Island counties had been slower to mov© in the matter of highways than those of the north, and now that they were prepared to take full advantage of the Act they found that the amount which might have been available for capital expenditure this year was somewhat curtailed. Cr. Catley moved, and Cr. Ryder seconded, that the action of the executive in opposing the creation, of another Highways Board be approved. “Have they an aliocation for the South Island?” asked Cr. Jensen.

The chairman: Yes; in proportion to the number of motor vehicles registered. The motion was carried.