VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 941, 30 April 1880, Page 3

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Vincent County Council was held on Wednesday the 2Sth iuat., in the Council Chamber, Clyde. There were present—Vincent Pyke, Esq. (Chairman), and Councillors Jolly, Colclough, M’Giunis, Naylor, Pitches, and Fraser.

Statement of estimated receipts and ex* pendituro was read (see advertisement). The Chairman said the previous experience of the Council had been that the receipts had exceeded the estimate, and the estimated expenditure had been overstated, and ho saw no reason why tho next year’s transactions should in this respect vary from previous ones.

Cr Colclough : If any attention was to be paid to tho very generally expressed opinion that tho subsidy ceased from the 31st of March last, the Council could not depend on the item- subsidy. The Chairman said he had but little doubt of the subsidy being continued. The circular received by the Council from the Under Secretary was framed either in utter ignorance of tho distinct views of the House expressed last session, or was an attempt on tho part of tho Government to set aside the expressed wishes of tho House. If the latter they would find themselves in the cold. He quoted from Hansard the motion brought up by himself and carried, also tho remarks that fell from Mr Hall,

the present Premier. Motion—“ That this House w ill not assent to the discontinuance of subsidies to local bodies until other and adequate provision has been made for the continuance and prosecution of local public works.” (Mr Hall.—l am father surprised that the honorable member for the Dunstan should have thought it necessary to propose a resolution of this kind, and still more that he should express such alarm at the State, raent of the Colonial Treasurer, because, after carefully reading his resolution and also the Statement of the Colonial Treasurer, 1 can see very little difference between the two. After announcing the intention the Government have formed with regard to their future dealing with these subsides, my honourable friend the Colonial Treasurer concludes by saying,—“ The important question of local finance is far too large to go into this session ; therefore .1 will say no more upon the subject now, except, Sir, the Government fully recogn’se the fact that it is their duty to submit to this House, upon its lirst meeting next session, a scheme which shall place local finance on a satisfactory and something like a permanent basis,” That is not a mere abolition of the subsidies, but it is an indication of a new scheme for placing local finance on a-satisfactory basis. The Colonial Treasurer further proceeds to say,—“ And, by satisfactory, the Government understand placing local bodies in such position as will enable them to obtain, as far as is possible, sufficient funds for all necessary works, while drawing abroad and distinct line between local and general finance ; and such a scheme the Government will endeavour to mature before the next meeting of Parliament.” “Now, the resolution of my honorable friend opposite asserts that, before the subsidies are actually abolished, some ottrer provision should be made for carrying on local public works. I understand the statement of the Colonial Treasurer to be precisely the same. If it be true, as the honorable gentleman has said, that the Statement of the Colonial Treasurer has given rise to alarm among local bodies throughout the country, then I think my honorable friend has done good service by calling attention to the subject, and allowing that alarm, wherever it exists, to be dispelled. In answer to Cr Joily, why interest on fixed deposit was omitted from receipts. The Chairman explained it was because of the alteration in the banking arrangements, by which now the overdraft allowed was reduced by LIOOO, and the interest on deposit decreased. Under the present arrangement he said it was better to keep their jbalanco in current account rather than place it on deposit. By the steps taken to change bankers the terms had been so altered that the Council would lose L3OO a year on current account, leave alone the loss on fixed deposit.

Cr Colclough : In the face of the heavy expenditure and the probable decrease of income, tho Council should consider the possibility of decreasing the salaries paid. He said Vincent County with its expensive staff of officers was becoming conspicuous. Cr Pitches was astonished at the.'remarks of Cr Colclough. If he remembered rightly Cr Colclough was one of a Committee appointed to consider the question of salaries, and signed the report that no possible reduction could be made.

After some few further remarks on the financial position of the Council, Cr M'Ginnis proposed that a rate of one shilling in the £ on all rateable property he struck for the year 1880-81. In support of the proposition, he said in face of large Works in progress and others contemplated. it was necessary to raise as much money as possible. The large landowners would doubtless grumble, but as they derived an advantage equal to the amount they paid by the rivers being bridged and the roads made, they were well able to afford it.

Cr Colclough seconded, hut with regret that tho money could not be done without. It was to he hoped the Council during the next year would only go into those works absolutely necessary and authorised. Cr I raser was not prepared to move an amendment as a one shilling rats was inevitable. Next year he hoped for a lower rate.

The motion was then put and carried. It was further resolved—That the state mailt of estimated expenditure and receipts be accepted. The Council then adjourned till 2.30.

On resuming, the report of Committee appointed to confer with the Maniototo Council re site of bridge over Lauder Creek on main Dunedin road, to the effect that the upper site had been agreed upon, and that the expense of building bridge and making roads and approaches were to be equally divided between the two Counties, was read and adopted. The Chairman read next business on the Order Paper—To take into consideration the desirability of holding a conference with the Maniototo County Council anent the following questions : I. The delay in the construction of the Otago Central Railway.

2. The policy of the Government in opening up lands on the Goldfields under the deferred payment system instead of adopting the agricultural lease system.

Mr M'Giunis thought it a pity the two questions should be taken together, and moreover thought there was no benefit to be derived from a conference. The substance of Cr M'Ginnis’s remarks was that if Mount Ida wanted the railway let them agitate, and if Vincent County required it let them agitate on their own account, and there was but little doubt in bis mind that until the branch lines were purchased there would be every opposition by Dunedin capitalists to the Central Otago line, and agitation to do any good must bo of a general character. He proposed as an amendment—That it-is not desirable to hold a conference on the railway question.

Cr Colclough thought it was the duty of the Council to use every power to get the railway continued, and would support the motion.

Cr Jolly thought no harm could be done by the convention, but that great harm had been done by not meeting the Royal Commission on Railways who had lately passed through the district.

The Chairman and Cr Colclough defended their action in not running after the Commission.

Cr Fraser was in favour of a deputation on the Minister of Public Works, even if they had to go to Wellington. So far as he could learn by the Australian papers the system of deputations was most successful j at any rate it had the advantage of obtaining a distinct expression of opinion, and he was convinced that any outlay by a deputation would repay itself. Ou the second question,

The Chairman said it wonhl be unwise to throw open all lands under the agricultural lease system. His view of the question was, that as under the deferred payment system tradesmen in the towns who desired to combine farming with their present businesses were debarred from so doing on account of the resident clauses, a certain proportion of each block thrown open for occupation, should be under each system.

CrM’Ginnis said, without the resident clauses there could be no true and despite what any one might say to the ‘ contrary, the deferred payment system was the only one the Council should endeavour to put ia to force, he addmitted the auction system was the cause of both, but it kept the speculators aud capalists in check. Ho hoped the Council on this question would not express any opinion until they had ascertained the views of the general public. Crs Colclough and Jolly wore in favour of the agricultural lease system, as it gave miners and others engaged in possibly may occupy them a few mouths, perhaps years for what they knew, to in the meantime procure a house for themselves.

Cr Fraser was of opinion that the two systems should go hand in hand, the lands of a first-class character being untler the deferred payment, those of an inferior description under the agricultural lease system.

Cr Pitches objected to hoth systems. Ho was in favour ot free selection ; that system had proved] highly successful in Canterbury province, and he could see no reason why it should not here. But of the t vo systems—deferred payment or agricultural lease—he was most decidedly in favour of the latter. There were many instances in his district where men of small capital had taken up small sections under the deferred payment system as it were to give them a start, but who were now virtually ruined because they could not extend their holdings. Tho Chairman explained that under neither system could a man take up more than one section or 320 acres.

It was ultimately resolved—That the holding of a conference with the Maniototo Council on the following questions was desirable.

Ist.—The delay in tho construction of the Otago Central railway. 2nd.—The policy of the G overnmont in opening up lands on the gold-fields, under the deferred payment system, instead of adopting the Agricultural Lease system - where most suitable to [the requirements of the district.

A letter from Mr J. S. Dickie, County Collector and Valuator, asking leave to accept the appointment of Valuator under tho “ Property Tax Act,” was road, and after some remarks it was resolved that leave be granted Mr Dickie to accept the appointment. The meeting then dissolved.