GOVERNMENT ROAD VOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 551, 19 March 1913, Page 5

GOVERNMENT ROAD VOTES.

QUESTION OP EXPENDITURE DEPARTMENT AND COUNCIL. The uncertainty as to the responsibility of county councils in connection with the expenditure of Government road grants is at times liable to delay the issuing of authorities for work for which money has been voted. This was exemplified at the last meeting of the Waitomo County Council, when a letter was read from the clerk of the Kawhia County Council, enclosing a the Public Works Department concerning the expenditure of the grant on the Okupata-Pekanui road, and pointing out that benefit would accrue to settlers in both counties by having the work done. The letter from the department to the Kawhia County Council stated that as no application had been received from the Waitomo County Council that body apparently did not consider the work of much importance. The road in question is the boundary 'between the two counties, and both local bodies are naturally concernedjn the expenditure of money thereon. The clerk of the Waitomo County Council explained that in previous years the Public Works Department had issued circulars concerning the different votes requesting to know if the council would undertake the work. This procedure rendered any misunderstanding unlikely. He had written as follows to the department on the matter: —

"The Kawhia County Council have written to us on two or three occasions with regard to the expenditure of a grant on the Okupata to Pekanui road. They advise us that they were informed by the Public Works Department that the grant would be entrusted to the Waitomo County Council for expenditure. I replied saying we had no communication from your department whatever on the matter. By to-day's mail I received a copy of a letter written to the Kawhia County Council and signed by yourself in which you scate the Waitomo County Council have made no representations for the spending of this money, consequently you presume we don't consider the work is urgent. Surely sir, you are sufficiently acquainted with this district to know all monies voted for roads, and bridges is urgently needed. The reason no application has been made by us is this: Previous to this year your department issued a circular asking us if we were agreeable to spend various grants within the county, as shown on the current year's Estimates, together with my balances from previous years. So far this year—in our case I refer —it has never been done, further, you are well aware it has been usual for the Public Works Department to spend certain grants themselves, and up to the present they are still doing so; is it reasonable under the circumstances that we should know what grants we

haveto spend? If we are to spend the grant referred to, I would esteem it a favour to get full particulars of same from you, as well as any other grants, that you propose to entrust us to expend, for which you have not already had plans and specifications submitted. If ths information is supplied, it will certainly facilitate the workings of this council and curtail the many reports that are levelled against us by ratepayers for banging up Work in connection with the expenditure of Government grants." The clerk's action was approved.