DEPUTATION RE DEDUCTION FROM SUBSIDIES.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1401, 12 August 1878, Page 3

DEPUTATION RE DEDUCTION FROM SUBSIDIES.

[By Telegraph.] [from the correspondent of the press.] On Saturday a deputation, consisting of Mr Moorhouse and other county delegates, waited on the Colonial Treasurer respecting the refund of money deducted from subsidies. Mr Baitings, chairman of the County Conference, said a strong feeling exist, d amongst the counties and municipalities that the Government had broken f.iith in the matter of subsidies and were acting illegally, and though the local bodies were desirous of working harmoniously with the Government, they considered the original arrangement under the Abolition scheme should be adhered to. The Colonial I reasuier paid the Government considered itself ltgally entitled to deduct these subsidies, as the 30th section of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1877, repeals the 13th section of the Abolition Act, 1876, in so far only as it is inconsistent with the Act. In the Act of 1877 no reference is niadd to subsidies. It must be admitted that if a number of these institutions throughout the colony suDported their own hick to the extent of onehalf, the other places had no claim to receive the whole of their support from the consolidated fund. In the colony thirty-two districts partly support their nick, and eleven were entirely supported out of the consolidated fund. From these latter districts deductions are made from subr-idies Futiicient to maintain the institution, because the Government had maintained them. Where boroughs declined to take over the management, they were not entitled to any support. Mr Sutton contended that there was no Act in existence authorising the G ,vernment to impose these conditions on the local bodies. Fifty thousand pounds was placed on the estimates with the explanation from the Ministry that it was in lieu of stoppages, but for the support of Hospitals. Tr o Treasurer —We carried out the policy of our predecessors. Major Atkinson said the Government had put down ,£50,000 by way of subsidy, not to maintain those institutions. Mr Bastings —Do you state you have not deducted anything from boroughs or counties, where they partly maintained their own institutions. Mr Ballancc—Where we deducted wc have returned the money. Mr Moorhouse—According to your apprehension of the law ? Mr Ballance—That is as we are advised.

Mr Moorhousc—But we don't agree with your view of the law. Mr Brodie (Thames) —Many deductions have been made where there are no Hospitals. In our county there are none, but you made deductions for support of the Auckland Hospital. Mr Bailanco—You take advantage of the Aucklaud Hospital. Mr Brodie-No. They will not allow us_.

Mr Green— VVe still think this matter is in an unsatisfactory stata, unless counties were associated with Hospitals in conjunction witli the Government. Many counties in UtagO, had any choice been left them, would have sent their sick to other hospitals than these, on account of which Government thought proper to stop subsidies, and would prefer to make their own arrangements. Mr Moorhouse —We shall have a discussion rn Parliament on this subject. The joiut action of local bodies luay not impress the Government, but it will give the Government an enlarged opportunity of ascertaining the opinion of boroughs aud counties. Mr Ballance—l understand the boroughs differ from the counties on this question. Mr Moorhouse—By a very small majority. Mr Ballance —We say where the people themselves have to raise a portion of the money, it will be a far greater economy than where the hospitals are entirely maintained out of consolidated revenue. Nothing is so likely to demoralise as the payment out of consolidate! fund without local responsibility. Mr Moorhouse—' hat might be avoided The economy in one case might be better than the other. The Government might institute a system of control and management far cheaper and more certain in its op* ration than the one proposed. That is our contention. Mr Brodie —The South has_ endowments and reserves, the revenue accruing from which realises sufficient with a pound for pound subsidy, without putting their hands into their own pockets, and that money comes out of the pockets of the general public of the colony, who contribute towards the consolidated fund. Mr Bastings—l deny that we have large endowments for hospitals in the South. Mr Brett (Auckland)—We might accept the Government proposals if we had any guarantee they would be final. But we have no guarantee that in a couple of years we should not be in the same position as we are now. Government may give the pound for pound for a year or two, and then stop it. Mr Ballance—Would an Act of Parliament be a guarantee ? Mr Brett—A block of land would. Mr Ballance—You must rely on tho honesty and good sense of the House. I do not think there is the slightest possibility of any change for years to come. 1 think it is a dangerous thing to claim charitable aid , ground of right. Anyone who studies the Enge ' lish system must see that the right to receive charity has, to a large extent, pauperised communities. Mr Bastings—Then what I am to take as an answer to this deputation is that it is the intention of the Government, wi ere any counties and boroughs have contributed towards the maintenance of their local hospitals to refund any money that has been stopped out of their subsidies i - Mr Bailanco—That it the principle of our cir-

cular and if not fully carried out it will be. We acknowledge that principle. Mr Bastings—ln the case of counties and borough* which have not contributed anything, Government do not intend to refund the deductions? Mr Ballance—Government do not intend to refund th'-m. Mr Bastings—ls that your final decision ? Mr Ballance That is the position we have taken nr, and we believe we are warranted by law and equity. Mr Bastings—We are legally advised that Government cannot stop these subsidies, and that if we went into a court of law wo should recover them. Would Government have any objection to this being tried in a court of law in a friendly way ? Mr Ballance —I cannot say. I should have to refer the question to the Attorney-General I think it would be very undesirable for the local bodies of the country to go t > law with the General Government over a technical question relating to subsidies. Wo must take into account the spirit and intention of the Legislature. Mr Moorhouse— That is what wo urge upon the Government.

Mr Ballance—l am clear there was no intention to repeal that sectiou. Mr Moorhouso—l was a party to it, and in giving my vote for the abolition of provinces, I felt this was one of the principal inducements which the Government held out to favor the acceptance of th : ir abolition proposals. Mr Ballance—Then why did not Parliament oppose it in the following Act ? That was the time they should have t.iken their stand. Mr Bastings— We wish to assure you that we are not a p >rty organisation. Mr Ballance—l understand the object of the Conference is to get as much of the consolidated fund as you can. This is a perfectly legit mate object on the part of the Conference, but it is also perfectly legitimate for the Government to act upon a different basis. The deputation then withdrew.

HARBOR BILL. [By Telegraph.] [from the correspondents of the press ] This Bill, introduced by Colonel Whitmore, is for the purpose of regulating the m nagement of harbours. The short title is the Harbors Act, 1878, and it wi 1 come into operation on the Ist of January, 1870. It incorporates the Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876, and consists altogether of 234 clauses. Clauses 2 to 8 are preliminary, and repeal iu whole or in p .rt the various Acts and i Ordinances of the Harbor Bo rds of Kakanui, New River, Oamaru, Riverton, Otago, and likewise sections 22 and 28 inclusive of the Marine Act, 1867. . A special saving clause is inserted in favor of the Shipping and teamen's Act, 1877. By clause 9 the Governor may, by warrant, from time to time define, alter, annul and redefine the lands, and fix or alter the name of any harbor : ht no such alteration is to affect the jurisdiction of the Harbor Board. He may also authorise a survey to be made of any harbor. He may also authorise survey to be made of the coast line where requisite, and such surveys arc to be published by the Marine Department. _ Clauses 12 to 18 make special provisions where no Harbor Board exists. Jn such a case the Governor in Council is to hold aU the powers of a regular Board, and may appoint and dis i iss officers, may vest the management of any wharf in any local governing body as he may think fit, and may authorise the construction of harbor works, may prescribe the dues on private wharves, and may at any time, by giving notice resume the rights and powers which he may have prev ously bestowed on others. Clause 20 constitutes the several Harbor Boards. The Lyttelton Board, according to the schedule attached, is to consist of ten members, two of whom are to be appointed by the Governor, the Mayor of Lyttelton is to be a member, two to be elected by members of the Chamber of Commerce at Christchurch from among themselves, two to be elected by the Selwyn County Council, two by the ratepayers of i hristchurch city, and one by the ratepayers of the Borough of l-yttel'on. Boards c ii:tiuted und r this Act are to hold office till the econd Monday in February in the year 1880, when an election is to be held to fill all seats not occupied by members appointed by the Governor or holding seats ex officio Clauc 27. Every Harbor Board created after the pns-ing of this Act will be created by a special Act of the General Assembly. Clauses 20 to ii deal with elections, nominations, &c. Non-elective members are to hold office for three rears, elective members for two years, and tbe elections are to be he'd in manner provided by the Regulation of Local Elections Act, 187b'. In default of any or a snffici. nt number of persons being e'ected, the Governor may appoint persons to fill tho vacancies. Any member, however, who is any way) nterested in any contract with the Board otherwise than as a member of an incorporat d society, or is a bankrupt or insolvent, is to be considered disqualified. Clauses 43 to 47 details the manner of reconstltution of bodies that may have dissolved. In such case the Gove nor in Council may appoint a person to make enquiries, and after, if ho thinks fit. veit tho control of the harbor in the hands of any local governing body. He may also make any order as to the endowment of any dissolved Board.

Clauses 48 to 56 deal with the incorporation of Boards and conduct of business. Every Harbor Board is to be a corporate body, and may appoint a secretary, treasurer, clerk, harbormaster, pilots, wharfinger, and any other necessary officers, and it i 3 provided that one individual may hold two or more of .such offices ; but no paid member of the Board is to hold any such paid office. The Board mav make by-laws, but till specially repealed all existing by-laws are to continue in force,

Boards may enter into contracts for certain works, but every contract is to be in writing,and every contract exceeding .£SO is to be by public tender. Tho Board is to provide laborers, fee, and also to provide certain accommodation for Customs officers. No goods are to be allowed to remain on piers longer than allowed by by-laws, and in certain cases a Board may remove such goods and dispose of same to pay expenses. In certain cases a master or mate, after passing satisfactorily a prescribed examination, will be entitled to receive a pilotage exemption certificate for which a fee of two guineas is chargeable. Ships thus exempted are to hoist a white flag on entering port. Heavy penalties are provided for any offence on the part of a pilot. Clauses 98 to 101 place the entire control of lights, buoys and sea marks in the hands of the Minister at the head of the Marine Department. Clauses 102 to 108 give detailed instructions regulating the action of Boards in case of any wrecks or other obstructions requiring removal. Clauses 110 to 127 deal with harbor dues. Existing dues are to continue. No foreign ships, however, employed in the coasting trade, are to be subjected to higher rates than _ British ships arc. No exemption from dues is to be allowed. No Board will be allowed to levy any dues till their harbor works of every description shall have been completed, unless with the express previous sanction of the Minister. Clauses 136 to 150 make prov sion re reserves and endowments. The power to grant public reserves or other lands under any Act or Ordinance is still to exist. Endowments are to bo dealt with by Waste Lands Boards, and the Governor in Council may revoke endowments when the Board refuses or neglects to perform the duties imposed upon it. Clauses 147 to 151 relate to foreshores and reclamations. Foreshores and land under the sea are only to be granted by the special authority of an Act of Parliament, and no land may he reclaimed or graving dock constructed without the same authority, and all land reclaimed id to be under control of the local governing body. It is added that the Governor in Council may make grants to Boards of land reclaimed by them. Clauses 152 to 109 provide in detail for particulars of harbor works. The most important clause is 164, which protects all rights existing under the authority of tho Public Reserves Act, 1854, and its Amendment Act, 1862. By clause 170, the harbor fund is to consist of (1) harbor and pilotage dues; (2) harbor improvements sale; (3) rents and profits of land s (4) proceeds and profits of endowments. Clauses 186 to 190 give Boards ample borrowing powers, and provide in detail regulations for raising of loans. Clauses 200 to 206 provide for the repayment of loans.

Clauses 207 to 210 give regulations for proceedings of debenture holders for remedies Further it is enacted that the Governor in Council may make general harbor regulations, but the harbor by-laws arc to regulate the position, moving, and government of ships in harbor, al-o all matters respecting pilotage rates, and the co lection of all rates and dues.

'Hie Harbor Board may likewise levy any rate necessary for improvements. All customs officers are at all time 3 to have freedom of passage anywhere, and two justices may appoint persons, nominated by the Board, to be constables within the limits of the Harbor Board.

The last clansn provides that the Governor in Council may rectify any irregularities, and may declare an extension of time for anything required to be done.