§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, with regard to the new mountain road in Basutoland, how many miles have been built and at what capital cost; what will be the annual cost of maintenance; and when it is intended to complete the road.
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§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerForty-six miles of road have been built so far at a capital cost of £245,000. The road is now nearing the banks of the Senquenyane River and will soon reach the site provisionally selected for the headquarters of a new administrative district, which is being established to make possible the closer administration of large tracts of remote mountainous country.
Although there would be advantage in extending the road across Basutoland to join the road system of Natal, it is not proposed to do so at present, for at this stage of Basutoland's development it is felt that efforts should be concentrated on anti-erosion and other projects which will directly improve the standard of living. The annual cost of maintaining the road will be £9,000 on its completion in early 1957.