D.—l.

An analysis of the Board's expenditure and the expenditure by local authorities for the year 1938-39 on improvements and construction shows the following position in respect of main and State highways : —■

The following tabulation shows the amounts which have been provided by the Board and the local authorities on maintenance, renewals, and construction during the last ten years in respect of the complete highways system : —

The maintenance figure in the above tabulation excludes indirect charges such as supervision and interest, but includes the cost of flood-damage restoration. It will be noted that expenditure on constructional work was approximately £750,000 greater than in the previous year, and, further, that the proportion found by local authorities still continues to diminish. The following statement shows the total expenditure by the Board in each Island on both maintenance and construction for the financial year ended 31st March, 1939, the latter including renewals. The figures take into account administration charges, but exclude interest on highways loans

Maintenance. The total maintenance expenditure by the Board and by local authorities amounted to £1,464,070, as against £1,227,555 the previous year. The increase is therefore £236,515, and the average cost per mile has risen from £101-2 in 1937-38 to £119-9 in the year under review. This is mainly accounted for by extraordinary flood damage, the repair of which came to charge almost entirely during the period.

130

t> i> Local Percentage of T P° rc ® 11 *®'g e r , l oa . n V? Authorities' Total. Board's Contri- Local Authorit.es Contribution. Contribution . j bution to Total . Cont "bution to £ £ £ North Island .. .. 1,750,155 85,556 1,835,711 95-34 4-66 South Island .. .. 1,128,153 30.141 1,158.294 97-4 2-6 Totals.. .. 2,878,308 115,697 2,994,005 96-14 3-86

1929-30. 1980-31. 1931-32. I 1932-33. ' 1933-34 1H31-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1B37-3S. 1938-39. i_ l £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ ££ Maintenance by Board .. 1,049,249 872,577 849,734 600,324 674,020 932,6751,190,179 900,731*1,074,112* 1,311,340* Maintenance by local autho- 375,849 317,839 215,568 168,466 187,735 226,554 284,423 196,023* 153,443* 152,730* rities Construction by Board .. 1,007,957 667,902 361,969 159,323 198,295 325,483 428,084 1,501,261t 2,318,600") 3,058,346f Construction by local autho- 203,148 150,984 94,973 43,181 55,997 57,975 78,263 103,260t 108,225f 134,359t rities Totals .. .. 2,630.2032,009,3021,522,244 971,2941,116,053 1,542,687 1,980,9492,701,275 3,654,380 4,656,775 Percentages. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Maintenance by Board .. 73-0 73-3 79-8 78-1 78'2 80'5 80-7 82-1 87-5 89-0 Maintenance by local autho- 26-4 20-7 20-2 21-9 21-8 19-5 19-3 17-9 12-5 10-4 rities Construction by Board .. 83-3 81-6 I 79-2 77-6 77-0 84-9 84-5 93-6t 95 ■ 5+ 95-8f Construction by local autho- 16-7 18-4 20-8 22-4 23'0 15-1 15-5 6-4j 4-5t 4-2f rities * These figures represent true maintenance expenditure, whereas in preceding years expenditure under the Revenue Account was shown. •('These figures and percentages relate to renewals and construction; previously renewals have been absorbed in both maintenance and construction.

Expenditure Tnfnl Percentage Expenditure on ™ of on Renewals xpen 1 ure Expenditure Maintenance. and , r i j in Construction. eac 8 an ' each Island. £ ' £ j £ | \ North Island .. .. .. 943,082 i 1,969,229 2,912,311 65-51 South Island .. .. .. 418,544 1,206,395 1,624,939 34-49 Totals .. .. 1,361,626 | 3,175,624 | 4,537,250 100-00