H.—4o.

The figures for the last three years are as follows : —

6. EOAD FINANCE. (a) Dominion's Road Bill, 1930-35. The Department has investigated the numerous statistical data available from official sources and has analysed and classified them in order to show approximately what the roads, streets, and bridges are costing under the headings of construction, maintenance, and loan charges. The figures which have been analysed relate to the five years ended 31st March, 1935. The classification of the roads into main highways, urban roads and streets, and other roads has been carried out, as each class of road or street has differing problems attached to it. This classification has involved a certain amount of estimation, as also have certain aspects of the figures for the whole road bill. Any estimations have been made on a conservative basis, and the figures are sufficiently close to actual fact to form a basis for reliable broad conclusions. The following table shows the expenditure under the various headings for the five years ended 31st March, 1935 :—

The principal points emerging from the figures for the years ended 31st March, 1934, have been commented upon in previous annual reports. The figures for 1934-35, as compared with those of the previous year, are commented on below : — (1) Maintenance. (i) Main Highways. —The increase of approximately £350,000 is due to increases in the expenditure of the Main Highways Board in this direction and of counties out of ordinary revenue. (ii) Other Roads. —This increase of approximately £240,000 is due partly to a grant of some £178,000 made out of the Main Highways Account by way of subsidy on rates levied on farming land under the terms of section 28 of the Finance Act (No. 3), 1934, partly to an increase in the amount of the subsidy paid out of the Main Highways Account to local authorities under section 37 of the Finance Act, 1930, and partly to increases in the expenditure of counties on roads other than main highways out of ordinary revenue.

11

Year ended 31st March, Revenue. £ 1934 .. .. .. .. 269 2,016 1935 .. .. .. .. 96 1,594 1936 .. .. .. .. 142 2,360 Total . 5,970

_ . . . . : —— — 1930-31. I 1931-32. 1932-33. 1933-34. 1934-35. I Maintenance—■ £ £ £ £ £ Main highways .. .. .. 1,326,372 1,202,343 858,577 919,194 1,268,610 Urban roads and streets.. .. 581,734 529,104 453,969 397,371 392,032 Other roads .. .. .. 1,130,811 1,009,702 763,648 708,424 947,057 Total .. .. .. 3,038,917 2,741,149 2,076,194 2,024,989 2,607,699 Construction — Main highways .. .. .. 838,477 540,841 261,602 275,676 406,562 Urban roads and streets.. .. 1,077,380 1,338,677 1,224,214 1,104,047 944,235 Other roads .. .. .. 1,656,395 1,489,127 1,122,145 1,085,672 1,010,182 Total .. .. .. -3,572,252 3,368,645 2,607,961 2,465,395 2,360,979 Interest and sinking fund charges— Main highways .. .. .. 595,845 635,930 622,128 632,846 612,129 Urban roads and streets.. .. 615,530 640,728 642,282 585,900 554,400 Other roads .. .. .. 1,125,027 1,198,786 1,129,482 1,136,070 1,136,515 Total .. .. .. 2,336,402 2,475,444 2,393,892 2,354,816 2,303,044 Total annual road bill— Main highways .. .. .. 2,760,694 2,379,114 1,742,307 1,827,716 2,287,301 Urban roads and streets.. .. 2,274,644 2,508,509 2,320,465 2,087,318 1,890,667 Other roads .. .. .. 3,912,233 3,697,615 3,015,275 2,930,166 3,093,754 Total .. .. .. 8,947,571 8,585,238 7,078,047 6,845,200 7,271,722