GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2241, 29 August 1914, Page 9

GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES

; « NEW SYSTEM PROPOSED NON-POLITICAL BOARD; ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL BODIES. Very important alterations of the law controlling the expenditure of State funds in aid of local and development works are proposed in the Local Grants and Subsidies Bill, which was introduced and read a first time in tno Houne of Representative* last night. It provides the constitution of a Board of Works, consisting of three persons, to be appointed by the Govornor for a term, of five years, and to bo eligible for reappointinent. One of tho three members is to bo appointed by tho Govsraor as chairman. "The> board.ehall be a corporation under the name 'of the Board of Works, having perpetual sucoession and a common seal. Any member of the board may be suspended by the Governor for misbehaviour or incompetence and the suspension Iβ to stand unless reversed by tho House of representatives within 28 dave .of its being . notified that the suspension has been ordered. Members of the boiird are forbidden to engage in paid employment outside the duties of their office. The board is to hold its first and subseqnent meetings at euoh time and v place as ore appointed by the ohaarman. Iwo members shall be a quorum. In conducting an inquiry the board shall have the powers of a Commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908. The Public Service Commissioner may appoint a board secretary iind other necessary officers. The Governor-in-Council may niake regulations providing for the. <lue administration of : the Aot.

' Grants from the Public Works Furfd. A local authority may apply to the board for a grant in aid of a specified work. The application shall be accompanied by an estimate signed by an engineer or other qualified person. All applications for grants heretofore made to the Minister of' Public Works shall be dealt with by the board. The board may have the estimate-'supplied revised by an inspecting engineer, and may act on the revised estimate. Before making any recommendation of allocation,. the board shall make all necessary inquiries. <-Classification • of Works. In. considering applications the Board is to proceed on the principle that the primary purpose of grants is. the construction of roads and bridges. Grants for other works are only to be made in oases of exceptional urgency and importance. Proposed works are to be classified in Class\ Local works urgently require!} in the public interest as well as of local benefit (such as "bridges over dangerous rivers or connecting roads in general use). Class 2, Local worka in distnota or parts' of districts where settlement of Crown lands bas been effected for a period exceeding three years end where the settlers, are not provided with sumciont roads. . . ~~ , Class 3 Local works in districts or parts of districts where the local authorities are subject to disadvantages by TeaBOn of . / ■ (a) Sparse settlement throughout, or in a considerable part of the district. (b) The existence of large areas of unoccupied Crown land ' or Native load • • . . t ~ (c) Difficulty in procurvntr suitable material for metalling roads. Clas3 i, all otfter local works. Appropriations for Grants, The Minister of Finance shall in each year notify the House of Representatives of the amount it is proposed to expend out of the PuMio Works Fund in aid of local works. The Board shall then prepare a report allocating the amount'and in determining the'works .to be Tecommended shall give preference to works in Classes l^2,.and 3 ■respectively overworks in Class i, and; shall in give preference to works in Class 1 over works in Class 2, and to works in Class 2 over works in ; Class S. ■ ..

■ The Public -Works Ksfcimatea shall be in two parts, the first part dealing with expenditure exclusive'of. grants for local vrorke and the second part being estimates for grants in accordance with the Board's report. ' ■ , New System of Subsidies, ,Tlie system of subsidies from the Consolidated Fnnd is remodelled. At' present only municipal councils have their subsidies determined by a permanent Act. ft is proposed to place other.local bodies in the «une position and pay subsidies on the following scale;— In counties whore there are no road districts. J - . When the general rates do not exceed 41000, 10a. in, the Jβ. When the general rates exceed JEIOOO, 6s. in the £, provided that the amount paid shall not be less than .£SOO nor wore than JJ2500. ■ In counties where there are road districts, -' When.the general rates for c road board do not eic«d 4500, Wβ. in the £. When the general rates exceed £500, Ss. in the £~ provided that not less .than '43250 nor more than 4500- shall be paid. ' If a road district does not collect rates, the county may claim on rates oollectod iR the district. When the general rates collected by the county in outlyinjr districts do not oxwed J650&, 10s. in the £. When the gea eral rates so collected by the county ox"ie.ed ss. intbe £, provided that not less than ,£250 nor more than .£SOO 6hall' be' paid annually. Where a road district or part of a road district ie'nieTged in a county and beoomes a riding or part of a riding, the same rate of subsidy will be paid for the year as if the merger had not occurred. ;Vo BDMvter sura ia all than J22500 ehatt be paid in respect of any county and its read district, and when the total amount that would be payable in respect of the general rates exceed ',£2500, then the total nmount eball be apportioned pro rata, according to the amount of the general rates collected.

In Tespect of each town board— ' When the general rates collected do not exceed JJ7SO, ss. in the Jt. When the general rates exceed JS7SO, 2s. Gtl. in the £, the payment not to be les3 than £W 10s., nor more than £450. In addition to the subsidies mentioned above, a sum equal to one-fourth of the aggregate snbsiaiwj to be provided annually by the Minister of Finance, and allooatea by the board among the local authorities, . Main Arterial Roads. It is laid down that no road shall be deemed a main nrtorial toad unless It passes in a continuous lino through at least two oountiee, of from a railway to a seaport, or is generally, used by .pardons residing in a district other than that in which it is situated. The board is to ascertain and report to Parliament as to what roads should be deemed main arterial roads. If Parliament adopts the re? port Wholly or in part, provision shall be made out of snch of the public funds Dβ Parliament directs in each year, to the extent ascertained by the i-ew>rt, or part of the report, adopted, and tiie local authorities shall bD exempt from responsibility for tho cost of maintenance, repair, or construction, to the extent so ascertained. . . ■

Revenue.from Motors. \ Moneys paid into the Consolidated Fund under any Act now in force or hereafter passed, providing for annual motor licenses, shall, after, deducting cost of administration, bo paid over to the board, and shall.be expended upon the special maintenance and repair of such roads and bridcM »r» most JitUiseA foi motor Nothing in. the Bill applies to the reading of Crown and Native lands which aro Wing opened for settlement.