THE COLONIAL SUBSIDY TO ROAD BOARDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 753, 15 November 1870, Page 2

THE COLONIAL SUBSIDY TO ROAD BOARDS.

As considerable curiosity is felt by the Road Boards of Westland concerning the arrangements for paying to them the amount (L 2700) voted by the Assembly as subsidy, we reprint from, the Canterbury Press a copy of a letter recently received from the Colonial Secretary upon the subject so far as it relates to Canterbury. It will be seen that the distribution will be in accordance with a plan, to be submitted by the County Chairman, who, we presume, will consult the County Council on the matter. It is interesting to observe that the Government draw special attention to the desirability of encouraging the formation of roads in outlying localities : — " Sir,— l have the honor to enclose a copy of "The Payments to Provinces Act, 1870." and to draw your attention to the sections thereof (1 1 to 16), relating to the yearly division during the seven years ending the 30th June, 1877, the sum of fifty thousand pounds among the Road Boards of the Province and the County of Westland. '•' The amount is to be apportioned in accordance with the 12th section among the provinces and the County of Westland, in proportion to their respective populations, as fixed for the time being for the purposes of the said Act. The sum payable accordingly for this year to the Province of Canterbury is eight thousand pounds (L 8000.) " Your Honor will perceive by the 14th section that the sum so apportioned is to be divisible in accordance with a scheme to be proposed for each year by the Superintendent of the Province, or Chairman of the County Council, and approved by the Governor-in-Council for the first year, and by resolution of both Houses of the General Assembly for the subsequent year. " I have accordingly to request your Honor to be good enough to propose a scheme for the division of the sum payable to the Province of Canterbury, in order that it may be considered by the Go-vernor-iu-Council. This proposal should be accompanied by a full statetneut of the existing Road Roards, and of the receipts and expenditure of each during the last twelve months, showing in each case the source of the receipts, and the service on which the expenditure was incurred. I have no wish to fetter in detail the discretion of your Honor in making such a proposal, but as the colony provides the funds, I would generally point out to your Honor the importance of especially encouraging the formation of road 3in the outlying districts where settlement has just commenced, and is at a stand-still from want of means of communication. With that view, it would be unadvisable to make population or local rates the basis of division, and it would be desirable to reserve a part of the amount for distribution among Road Boards which may be hereafter created, and which the prospect of this contribution may perhaps bring into existence. I would also add that any gold fields should be included in Road districts. "As it is important that advantage should be taken by Road Boards of the tine season in the expenditure of this money, I shall fee.l obliged by a reply to. thisleLter.ut your early convenience. •' I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant, "W; Gisborne."