THE IMPOUNDED LAND FUND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1671, 28 June 1879, Page 4

THE IMPOUNDED LAND FUND.

The following further correspondence, in reference to the sum of £IOO,OOO, balance of land fund due last year to the counties and road districts of Canterbury, has passed between Mr J. L. Wilson, as chairman of the Road Board conference, and the secretary to the Treasury : Christchurch, June sth, 1870,

To the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer. Dear Sir,—l am instructed by the committee «f the chairmen of Road Boards at a meeting held to-day, to point out that the £IOO,OOO due to the counties and Road Boards not having bsen paid, great inconvenience is felt by some of the local bodies entitled to receive a share of it; that if these bodies were in possession of it, public works would be undertaken which would give employment to a large number of the unemployed now out of work, and would stop complaining and public meetings now being held, which will do the colony a great deal of injury if not soon stopped. The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, when in Christchurch, gave the deputation who waited upon him on this subject to understand that the money would be paid in May last, if not before. lam requested to urge upon you the great importance of this subject, and hope you will see jour way to let ua have the money at once. I am, dear sir, Yours obediently, (Signed) J. L. Wilson, Chairman of Conference. Treasury, Wellington, 11th June, 1879. Sir,—l have the honor by direction of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, to acknowledge the receipt of yonr letter of the sth instant, written on behalf of a committee of chairmen of Road Boards of the Provincial District of Canterbury, requesting that a sum of £ 100,000 payable to Counties and Road Boards in re: poet of the surplus land revenue of the district, may be paid over at once. In reply, I am to remind you that payment of the sum required to is contingent on the raising of a loan of £IOO,OOO under the Lyttelton Harbour Works Loan Act, 1872. In consequence of the high rates of interest prevailing until recently, the Government did not consider it desirable to place this loan on the market by itself, and as they are about to propose to Parliament a new loan for the colony, it has been decided to include the £IOO,OOO in the schedule to the Bill. Payment to the counties and Road Boards concerned will therefore bo made so soon as the loan receives the sanction of Parliament, mad the necessary funds can be obtained. I have the honor to bo, sir, Tour most ohedientservant, (Signed) James C. Gavin, Secretary to the Treasury.