ROAD GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 644, 18 February 1914, Page 5

ROAD GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES.

.»- AUTHORITIES FOR. EXPENDITURE. URGENT CASES CONSIDERED. In reporting to the County Council meeting on Monday evening on his visit to Wellington the county chairman said the Minister for Public Worki had informed him that no authorities for the expenditure of Government grants or sbusidies would be issued except in the case of very urgent works. The Minister had also pointed out that the Council still had unexhausted authorities for a considerable amount.

The chairman said he had explained to Mr Fraser that contracts had been let in respect to all the authorities issued, and unless some means were adopted of allowing plans to be passed and contracts let for loan money, the whole of the work of the district would be held up. The Minister had eventually adopted the suggestion that the Government engineer should be allowed to pass t.ie plans so that the county could let contracts for the expenditure of the loan money. The subsidy would not be required this season, and would not be called upon until well into nex 1 ; year.

In respect to the various loans Which had been granted the chairman said they were hopeful that the money for the loans would be made available promtly, but in view of a letter received from the Advances Department there appeared to be some doubt about the matter. In any case the Counc : l could not let contracts until they were quite clear on the point. Fortunately the Pungarehu loan money was available, and the contract for that work could be let, but the others would have to be hung up pending receipt of information as to whether the money was available.