Communications and transit > Enquiry on national public works

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II.
The works in question are carried out on behalf of the central authority (Ministry)
in the case of national roads, or on behalf of the regional authorities in the case of roads
of general importance, or it may be even by the communes, which have recourse, at least
in part, to contributions in kind.
The central authority remains in charge of the work as a whole.
A recent law provides for the granting of exclusive concessions for public road
transport to companies or individuals, in return for participation in the cost of maintaining
and improving the roads used.
The regional and communal authorities frequently receive subsidies from special
funds (Labour Fund and Road Fund), when they carry out road works on behalf of such
funds.
In the case of paved roads (for definition see above), and roads covered with a modern
surface of the light type (light surface dressings, coatings, tarring, etc.), the work is, as
a general rule, directly carried out by public authorities, sometimes with the assistance
of piece-workers.
As regards modern surfacing of the medium or heavy type, the works are generally
placed in the hands of specialised undertakings, contracts being awarded on the basis of
public tenders, restricted or otherwise, and sometimes, in special cases, by private treaty.
In future, the administrative authorities propose to have certain of these works carried
out under their own direct control, either to train technical staff, or for experimental
purposes, or in certain cases to check costs of production.
III.
Expenditure on road works is met:
1. Out of a special fund : State Road Fund, which is simply a subsidiary budget
annexed to the State budget;
2. Out of the budgets of the regional and local authorities, sometimes with the
voluntary contributions from public bodies.
Payments are made either in cash or by means of debt certificates, issued by the
Road Fund under State guarantee.
These debt certificates bear interest at 6 %, and are redeemable at par within a
period which, at present, is between five and ten years.
They represent amounts in gold zloty, which vary according to requirements.
The system of paying for works by means of debt certificates is also applied to foreign
undertakings.
Hitherto no loans, internal or external, have been floated for the special purpose of
financing road works.
IV.
It may be estimated that the expenditure on road works may, on an average, be
allocated between materials and equipment and labour as follows :
In the case of paved roads : o/
Materials and equipment 60
Labour directly employed 40
In the case of roads with modern surfaces :
Materials and equipment
Labour directly employed