COUNTY SUBSIDIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1924, Page 4

COUNTY SUBSIDIES.

S<) UTJI LAND WANTS INCH KAS K WELLINGTON. Sept. 21. The Mouse of Representatives had before i|t Pa-day the report of the A. to 1,. Comm it toe on the petition of the Southland County Council for an increased subsidy on tlie rates collected in the county. The eniiimitlco made no recoiiiiiieiidalion, as the mutter was one of policy. Mr Forbes, exorossinp dissatisfaction with the report, saiil the present policy of subsidy was a matter which should he considered by tlie House with a view to improvinp it. 'I he maximum subsidy was £2199. The result had been that many of the lareer counties throuphmit the Dominion had been subdivided for the purpose of pettinp the maximum subsidy. Selwyn county in C’anterburv divided itself into half a dozen counties in order to pet :i very much larper subsidy Ilian could be pot by the one larpe county. He recalled tin occasion when ho was before the Local Rills Committee, and it reoresentativo of the Government asked if increased subsidy was the tarn of sub-division. He had replied that that was not in tlie forefront, their claim hrinp on the "round of more effioient mniiiipenient. lint there was no doubt the larper subside was wanted. There bad been multiplication of small counties as a result of tl e present system. There was no reason why £1 raised iit rates in n small district should receive full subsidy, while £1 raised in rates in a larpe county did not re.-civo anythin" like it. 'When they had the snecial evidence before them it was quite reasonable for a committee to come to a conclusion and recommend a chainro of policy which would prevent the multioliiatinn ol small local authorities. For quite a loti" time the Government had promised local "overnnient reform, but it bad b'en relocated to the limbo of tliiups which did nit- matter. . Hossiblv the Rrime Minister miplit revive this plank in bis party platform. Mr do la I’erelle moved that tlie report be referred back to t lie commit tee for a definite recommendation. The Hon .1. A. Haimn seconded (he motion.

The Hon d. G. Coates (Minister of I’ublie Works') said the matter bail I .en before tlie House time alter lime, and no Government bad been able to solve the problem. II imv <’overnment brotipht down a motion for the aiiialpniliatio’i of local bodies it would meet with verv considerable opposition, since local bodies themselves were at variance oil the subject, fsoutliLtltd County was one of the lowest rated counties in New Zealand. and one of the most cfiiciciitlv administered. and was in a position lo meet most, of its requirements out of revenue. Tin* Minister admitted that the iveseut system was nit sati-iactory. If the subsidy were increased. Southland. for example, would immediately reduce Its rale. While sonnT hint: mi,/lit be done by bavin" a "radnnted scale of snnddics. he tlioiipht that the priiicinle of District C’allticils. as envisaped in the llipliways Hoard scheme, would lie a sien in the ripht direction. The suhsidv should lie based on the rale levied. Air 11. K. Holland said the present system was not as equitable as it miplit Ir;. but one thin" that must be remembered was the position id ttndeveIni d districts. These must pet a limber late of sail sidy, and to endorse the bti, 11 1!, la iid nctitions would be to overlook tin l needs of the poorer counties. They would never pet lar I rout the present position 11 •»t i 1 eouulies were "iveii wider powers ol "overuuient. Mormi ANI) TOO RIG. The lion ('.. .1. Anderson, said S-ioth--1111 < I had liter li’.PP mill's of metalled reads in maintain anil nearly three times as many as the uexl larpe.-1 e unity in New Zealand. He had tiled years CPU le "ft H e riinitv divided iato two. and I: ’ b.lieyeil that se.me m” tlie-'' wle * niniiseil the (line val uov. r<‘erelied bavin ;' don ■ o. Ibe iminly was wedded to a n >ti< v ■ f werkinp old.on rates, whereas jl il leal i-en-tric te I Iliads on'., ol bnic. in places such as Wailniva. il would haw aided settlement. .end i>r< i‘ I in* 'd a "renter levenii;. If Soot Maud was divided iclo ibre' i ouuties ii would e.t erinine its dllheill-

Ml Mass V ■Cl•• •! 1 I b-.i it I 111 111 be ,o;■ ,i I thillp il i 01. unit tie • ili'l refi.O le molter. "f poll, \ in Ih, i I I epol Is. |,| I .0 torn 1 ,0 h;n |. 1 1 . I ,ei .11 h•' ! I "nvenimeiil was a mailer wliiih nsed In he ammallv I .'hire tlie House, but not hi up wa*; done I i renedy matte] .. The po-i li. ni now wa- heller than il used lo I .*, If anythin" were dnr.e lor s-’oiil Ida lid, such ;c- was asked lor. tlooi similai' Ir'.atmenl \*'ouhl liave to l.e aemled to all oilier ills! riels. Somethin" le-i ier than existed at present should I id"*l lo assist line " iiist riels which were in u;v"iii lie si ol sp.i'eial treatment for d-welnpuiental works. The I qt ,rl was referred back I" lb" I'onimit li e mi the vi.i. e.-.