ROAD BOARD'S FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT.
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Th., fourth annual report of the Road Board was issued It shows that receipts to the 31st March last, sinw the Board was constituted in May, 1910, reached 424,810,818. A fmther income of £2,270,000 is estimated to he received by the 30th September, 1915. Allowing E80,818 for administration expenses, and £1,000,000 for works in a period of trade depression, the total is reduced to £6,000,000. After deducting the grants made and indicated up to the 31st Mareh last, there is £2,170,895 for grants diming the period endieg the 30th September of next year.
It is pointed out in the report that the grant to the Middlesex County Cenncil, of 75 per cent. of the cost of constructing the proposed new western highway, is the one principal depar • tare from the practice of the Board to confine its grants to schemes for the improvement of read crusts. The Board is confirmed in its view that the most pressing and the most universal need is the strengthening and improvement of the crust.s of existing roads, and has concentrated its efforts on their improvement.
So far as Greater London is concerned, the Board adheres to its view that 16 per cent, of its income should be earmarked for this area. This totals .0960,000 of the £6,000,000 to which We have referred, and the money so far granted or indicated is : new western highway, £400,000; minty boroughs £55.000; Metropolitan boroughs, £127,000: highway authorities in extra London, B220,000; balance available, £158,000. Seeing that this estimate is stated to concern the period ending the 30th September, 1915, and seeing that the new western highway cannot possibly be completed before the year 1919, we must confess that we are ourselves unable to fnllow the Board's arithmetic. It should have at least E250,000 available for Greater London between now and the end of September next year, unless the whale of the £400,000 has to be purl over to the Middlesex authorities in advance.
Referring to representations of Metropolitan highway authorities in regard to the allocation to them of a larger pro. ihrtion of the income of the Board, by reason of the huge con. somption of motor spirit in the area of Greater London, the Board repeats its view that the system of allocation should not bc based on contributions to income. It also points out that the damage done by London motor vehicle's to roads in extra Metropolitan areas far exceeds the damage done to roads in Metropolitan areas by motor vehicles from outside_ We should prefer to see the word " wear" substituted for the word "damage."
We have not space to review the report at length, but we again acknowledge with satisfaction the excellent work for which Sir George Gibto and his colleague ore responsible, and the economical and 1:fficient manlier in which their duties are discharged. The tasks which fall to them are admittedly difficult and varied, yet a commendable spirit of impartiality has prevailed.