GOLD REVENUE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4912, 7 December 1925, Page 1

GOLD REVENUE.

DEDUCTIONS FROM LOCAL BODIES

MINISTER’S REPLY TO COUNCIL.

At last Thursday’s, meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council a letter was read from the Prime Minister in reply .to the council’s inquiry relative to the paying of ogl.d duty. The letter advised that the amount of gold duty payable to the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement account .was fixed by section 18 of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, and Amendment Act, 1912. In view of the exceptional circumstances attending the .position of. the Waihi Borough’s finances in 1922 special legislation was introduced giving the Minister for Finance discretionary power ais to the extent of contributions for the river improvement works deducted from gold duty accruing to the Waihi Borough, but the temporary relief thus afforded still remained a debt due to the Crown. That legistlation, however, did not authorise the payment to the council of .the proportion of gold revenue directed to be paid to the said account by the Act of 1910.

In regard to the alteration. from one-third to three-quarters in the percentage deducted, it was pointed out that that arrangement did not alter the total amount deducted for the year (£270) ; the only alteration being that the contribution to the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement account was paid over .earlier in the year than formerly.

Cr. Morgan contended that the position had not been .truly s.et out.. The council, was expected to support the township of Waikino< to the betterment of the Waihi borough and the detriment of the Ohinemuri county. ■ The clerk said the position now was that the council would only receive £96 a year instead of the £270.

It was decided .that the chairman and Cr. Morgan wait on the member for the district and ask him to protest against the action of the department.