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APPENDIX TO MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS. (Vide p. 10.)

SUGGESTIONS FOE AMENDMENT OF " THE ROADS AND BEIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT, 1882." 1. Description of Main Eoads. Mr. Sutton to move, — 1. That the Act should show more clearly than it does at present that the main-roads designation only affects such roads as regards construction ; and that it is the duty of the local body, out of its own resources, to provide for the entire cost of maintenance. 2. That the list of main roads should be divided into two schedules; one schedule to embrace all main roads not yet made, the other to embrace all main roads which have been formed and metalled. 3. That the list be revised each session, and that, as regards all main roads formed and metalled, no allocation shall be made except as regards building or reconstruction of bridges on such main roads. Mr. BteETHAM to move, — That the Minister for Public Works shall, during the recess, cause to be prepared an amended Schedule with respect to main roads that have already been declared, or that may be declared by resolution during the present session of Parliament, such Schedule to set forth the roads in four classes, as follow :— (1.) Main roads of strictly colonial importance; specifying mileage completed, value of bridges, and rough estimate of cost of completion. (2.) Important roads between local districts; also specifying bridges, &c. (3.) Roads on which hitherto little work has been completed, but are nevertheless important for opening up Crown lands and new districts. (4.) Roads of mere local interest; also specifying works, &c, as in (1). 2. Distribution of Geants. Mr. Sutton to move, — That, in order to provide for a fair distribution of public moneys under the main-roads clauses •of the Act, it is necessary that some better basis should bo arrived at. It is therefore resolved, — (1.) That the amount available for main roads should be divided among the several local bodies upon the basis of the property-tax valuations for local rates. (2.) That, upon complying with the requirements of clause 18, each local body shall be entitled to receive the amount found, under clause (1.), to be its share for the year. (3.) That, upon payment to the satisfaction of the Government of the proportion to be found, by the local body, the Government shall at once advance its quota. (4.) That the expenditure of the Government grant shall be vouched for by the Governments Auditor, who shall be required to report whether the local body has expended the money received from Government in terms of the Act. (5.) That, in the event of Government being assured that funds granted for a particular purpose have been diverted, it shall have power to withhold any further grants to the local bodies so offending. (6.) That, in the event of any local body having applied for less than its quota, or having omitted to apply before 31st March, a second allotment shall be made of the unappropriated balance. Mr. Sbddon to move,— That in no case shall the maximum amount payable to any one local body under "The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882," for works on main roads exceed in any one year £5,000. In the event of any local body having applied for a greater amount, the Colonial Treasurer shall, by ■and with the advice of such local body, determine the particular works the aforesaid sum of £5,000 Ehall be expended upon. Mr. Beetham to move, — 1. That, in the event of a county making application for a bridge the cost of which is moro than £5,000, the application may be received and granted in proportion with other applications, the balance being a charge upon the fund for distribution in the next and subsequent years, but so that not more than £5,000 shall be paid in any one year unless there is a sufficient balance of the fund for distribution for which application has not been made. 2. After works have been duly approved by the Minister for Public Works, imprest payments may be made from time to time to the fund of the local body by the Colonial Treasurer, upon requisition of the Chairman, — (a.) After the local body has spent one-fourth of the cost of the work which they are to provide (section 18), or (&.) Has delivered to the Colonial Treasurer debentures for one-fourth of the cost of the werk to be executed (section 14). 3. The local body to account to the Colonial Treasurer from time to time as may be required.

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