COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 793, 10 February 1871, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, February 8. On the motion of Mr Guinness the time f"V bringing up the report of the Committee appointed to consider the best means of clearing .the- obstructions to crossing the New River was extended. The Chairman presented a petition from the Directors of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company, complaining that a macadamised line of road had been opened to Arahura, by which the company had lost LlO per week, and praying for redress. The petition, which was signed by M. Cassius and others, was i read and received. THE ESTIMATES. On the question that the Council go into Committee to consider the estimates, Mr Bonar said that it was very clear that the estimated expenditure, however oin ch it was narrowed, must be in excess of the income. He noticed that the estimated amount of revenue was L 22,000, while the expenditure was set down at. L 29,800. How the deficiency of L 7500 was to be provided for it was impossible to conceive. The question was one of great magnitude and importance. He found that, -besides the deficiency of L 7500, there was a sum of L 9734 due to the Bank of New Zealand, LSOOO of which would fall due iv March. The Chairman : To be then renewed. Mr Bonar was not aware it was so. At all events, it was a liability. Against the deficiency and the liabilities there was certainly the amount receivable from the loan and sinking fund, but that was scarcely a reliable receipt until the securities were realised, and in the present state of affairs in Europe there would be great

difficulty in doing so. So that item of receipt could only be looked upon as a contingency^ and one which, at the best, would be some time before ix, became available. He would frankly confess that he considered it would be perfectly impossible to make reductions in the departmental expenditure to meet the deficiency. The difficulty was chiefly as to the present six months. If the County could only tide over that period, it might be able afterwards to make the expenditure meet the income. The assets of the County, including the amount receivable from the sinking fund and some, small accounts due from Canterbury, was L 12.363 9s 6d, against which there was the amount of deficiency bills, LSOOO, and the overrtraf t, L 4734. He would entirely leave out of consideration the capitation allowance and the Provincial charges. He did not think for one moment that the General Governniftnt would have the conscience to ask the Connty to pay any deficiency on the Provincial charges which the capitation allowance did not cover. So, as he would not loot? to the capitation allowance as receipt, he would not regard the Provincial charges as a claim upon the Connty, the deficiency in which the General Government would ! never ask the County to pay out of its own local revenue. ' The question, therefore, remained as he had first stated it, there was nothing to set against the deficiency except the amount receivable from the sinking<fund, which was only a contingent asset. There was, however, an increased amount expected to be receivable from land sales, as he was informed by the Chairman that there were greater demands for land. There was also another expectation, though it was taking a very distant view, he must confess — he referred to the census now being taken. He (Mr Bonar) believed that the population of the County would be found to be much nearer 16,500 than the number set down by the General Government, 13,500, and that would give Hhe County an increase of revenue under the Capitation Grant. He could see no other' source to make up the deficiency than this, and the revenue derivable from the sales of land, and probably the L7OOO which was deficient, or something very near it, would thus be made up. He would not occupy the Council longer, but he deemed it but right, before dealing with the items of expenditure, to take a general review of the financial position of Connty.

The Chairman said it must be borne in mind tliat the present was the first time that the estimates of income had been kept strictly within what might be cleesied the actual receipts, and lie might say with confidence that the L 22.300 set down would actually be received. Hitherto it had been found that there had been always a falling off in the estimated revenue, that had arisen Bimply because the estimate was over-rated. The capitation allowance would amount to L 32.350, while the provincial charges would be L 27,000, leaving a balance of LSOOO receivable from the General Government independently of any increase such as was mentioned by the member for Hokitika when referring to the census" now being taken. And he believed that the Assembly would, as had been done already in respect to the L3OOO, he willing to do some justice to the County. He believed that if the Council were very careful the County would get out of debt. He had taken great pains in the preparation of the estimates, and in going through the accounts, and he believed that the departmental expenditure could be reduced to LII.OOO, partly by reducing the salaries. He could see no other way ; the reductions were unavoidable. Besides, the Council was bound to show the General Government and the Assembly that there was an earnest determination to reduce the expenditure so as bring it as nearly as possible to the revenue. By such means, the credit of the County would be raised, and the confidence of the Government and the Assembly secured. With that view he intended to propose to commence the reductions from the top with himself.

Mr Guinness asked whether the contemplated reductions would include hospital?, &c. The Chairman: Certainly not; hospitals do not come under the head of departmental expenditure. On the motion of the Chairman, the Council went into Committee to consider the estimates. The following items were disposed tf :— County Chairman's Office. — County Chairman, L 30 0; chief clerk, L 17 5; clerical assistance, L 6 2105. Ovi the motion of the Chairman, the first item was reduced to L 25 0; the others were passed as set down. CoUnty Treasurer's Office. — County Treasurer, L 225 ; accountaut, L 137 10s. Passed as set down. County Solicitor.— Llso. After very considerable discussion, the amount was reduced to L 125. County Council. — Honorarium to members, L2OO ; expenses of elections, LSO.

This item excited very warm discussion. Mr Bonar proposed that payment should not be made to members residing in town, whether they represented a town or a country constituency. — Mr Botton opposed it altogether. — Mr Reid moved — "That the members for Greymouth, Paroa, Totara, Arahura, and Okarito, receive L3O each session, with reasonable travelling expenses from their usual places of residence ; but that no member residing in town should receive any honorarium. — Mr Bonar seconded the motion, pro forma. Mr Button reminded the Chairman that his former motion — " That no honorarium be paid to members," was postponed until the Council should go [ into committee, that motion should now be put. The question was put as desired by Mr Button, and negatived on the voices. The committee then divided on the motion of Mr Reid. Ayes, 3 ; Noes, 6. Mr Button moved — "That members representing country districts receive L 25 and travelling expenses, with the exception of those residing in town, or within five miles from town." The motion not being seconded, the committee divided on the question that L2OO be placed on the Estimates. Aye 3, 5 ; Noes, 4. The following is the division-list : — Ayes : Messrs Guinness, O'Connor, Barff, Scanlan, the Chairman ; Noes: Messrs Bonar, Button, Robinson, Reid.— The Chairman said that though the resolution wa3 passed, that the amount of L2OO should be put on the Estimates for honorarium, it did not necessarily follow that the sum should be paid. It was still necessary to determine what should be paid to each member. — Mr Robinson moved, and Mr Reid seconded, that progress should be reported with leave to sit again.— The motion passed without dissent.