TIGHTENING OF PURSE-STRINGS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 149, 12 July 1937, Page 6

TIGHTENING OF PURSE-STRINGS

jCouniy Attitude to Requests For Bigger Grants "MUST TAKE A STAND" "I have been preaching economy for jsoma timo, and I feel the timo has airivei when this council must take a stand and stick more istrictly to its roa] requirements tlian ia the past. Our ratepayers are getting it in the neek. all the time from increased cost of production, increased cost of living, and inexeases in practically everything," said the chairman of tho Hawke's Bay County Gouncil, Mr F. B. Logan, this morning when the question of making an additional grant not provided for in the estimates was under consideration. " We must prepare for the time that is coming when there will be a decrease in the price of meat and wool," he added. "32 we don't put anything aside, then we shall get caught." He pointed out that already tho eonncil had agreed to ' spend certain amounts not included in the estimates. "We have already made a bad beginning for the year by giving away what we haven 't budgetted for," he said. should make every endeavour to keep the money for its proper use, that of maintaining xoads and bridges. We should not let our hearte rule our heads." Mr M. 8. Chambers agreed that the council had to be very careful. " Wo have got practically all the year to go jtet," he said. ,"32 we increase this one grant, genuine though it is, there will be others jusfc as genuine, so we should not start the ball rolling now," said Mr E. H. Beamish. "I am in agreement with what you say. The money is disappearing, and if we do not watch it very carefidly there will be the old story that the xoads and bridges ' are the ones that won't get the money .when they shouH be the first to receive attention." The several requests for increased grants wera then considered, but no changes wero made.