Matawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1885. LOCAL -BODIES FINANCE AND POWERS BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1471, 3 October 1885, Page 2

Matawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1885. LOCAL -BODIES FINANCE AND POWERS BILL.

In our issue of last evening allusioti was made to the advances on subsidies to Which the Borough '-'Council- and Road Board are entitled through the instrumentality of this Bill. Our readers, no doubt, are - desirous- of knowing something of its provisions. It was originally a bulky draft of 50 or 60 clauses, bAit-when transmitted to the Upper i'i-Hduse> 'for their approvali' it grown Smaller by degrees and beautifully less, and only numbered ten clauses^ two of which the Goiin'cil struck out, but did not insist on their amendment. In the form m which it has become law, provision is made that there shall be paid to local bodies, with respect Jo rates collectable and collected for the current financial year, half the amounts to which they would be entitled under the plan of distribution described m the schedule to the Act, "Provided that collections may ex- " tend to , June 3Q-, 1 and the * { amounts voted herein shall be " payable up to the end of June, ( «1886. . Provided, ,also that there. .*' may, previous tp : the collection of **. the rates, be paid a sum not exu ceeding 75f per cent, of the sub-, to ; the -local bodies: on the "rates levied and to be collected ; "but should the rates not, becol»lected bef(»rp the 30th June, ISS6, ««, the local bodies shall repay to, the "Public Fiind the . subsidy- -.over* " paid." The schedule referred to

is the original schedule of the Bill, j and is m acoi'd with the proposed system of settled subsidies extending over many years. The Act provides only till the end of next June, and the subsidies payable will be proportionate. Tn. respect of all sums actually collected by way of general rates, Borough Councils and Town Boards will be entitled to receive 15s m the £ where the rates do not exceed i? 750, and 7s 6d where the rates collected exceed that amount. But no lesser sum than i? 750, or greater than £1,800 is to be paid to any Council or Board. To each Council of a County where there axei jhq -„rbad districts, the subsidy payable will be ,75 per cent, of £& for- every £ I wlien the general rates do not exceed LI OOO, and above- that amount 5s for every LI of rates; but no lesser sum than L2OOO, nor greater than Ll0;000, is to be paid to any Council. In respect of Counties where there are road districts, the subsidies are to be d.vided on a similar scale between the County Councils and Road Boards. The Governor may, by Qrder-in-Council, agree with any local body, or with any number of local bodies united, for the execution of works for opening up lands of the Crown* sold or about to be sold; but so that the total amount to be expended by the Government -shall not exceed one-tburth the revenue derived ,or to be derived from the lands. There is a further very important provision to the effect that the Governor-in-Council may dc4egate to any local body, or any number of local bodies united for the purpose, and may from time to time resume any powers or authorities vested m him m relation to the con- ! struction or control of any public works within the district or districts under the j urisdiction of such local body, or united local bodies, oh such terms and conditions as shall be expressed m such Order: *> In "addition to the powers of delega- " tion herein before given to ,the a Governor, he ("the Governor) " may, by Order-in-Cotineil, dele T "gate to any local body, for, any " period, and subject to any regula- " tions, restrictions, or stipulations " which may be specified m; such "Order, all or any of the powers " vested m him by any other *Act "which he has power to delegate, "and which, in his opinion it may "be expedient to delegate.under the "provisions, and every such delega-; "tion to alter or revoke ; provided " that any such alteration or revocation shall not affect the validity " of instruments completed or acts "done during the existence of such " delegation." The clause we. have quoted was struck out m the '.egislative Council, as well as one which gives local bodies power to expend a portion of the revenue derived from . gold duty or gold fields revenue m prospecting for diamonds or gold, silver, tin, or other metals ; but on the House of Representatives expressing disagreement with such amendments the Council-resolved ; not to insist upon them. In addition to the provisions we have noted I the Act absolutely repeals the Roads land Bridges Construction Act, 1 1882, a.nd'anv Acts amending the I same ; but they remain m force |so *far as' relates to anything ctonfe, or instrument % made, fright or privilege accrued,, offence committed, forjfeiture, penalty^ or liabilityincurred : All the <revenue cpllecte.d/withiii. ahys |mimri.Q,^district under -any : Act- s rev Slating to mining, for gold,%oexcept reiceipts deriVecl^ from' the^sales of jland for agricultural, purposes, are jtp/fpr.m part of the county fund ;j jaiid the Governqr-in-Coiincil may delegate to local bodies the powers he ipossesses for collecting: such revenue; jThe i expenditure of moneys ap£ propriated > for . expenditure for < encouraging; and assisting, the goldindustry may also be delegated to the local bodies^ The above is really all ■ : that was ) done during- the session: with,; regard to the subject of; >* local, government," which was. made : such :■ a- prominent feature m the Ministerial programme." It will be remembered that " local government reform !" was. the war-cry at the last general election of the party who succeeded m attaining power. Subsequently the country absolutely reverberated with trurh pet-tongued asseverations %as to, the Wonderful things ', which eventually were to be accbmplished m this direction. The Treasurer jilso made the subject a feature m the addresses delivered m Aucldjan4, C jirUtchutch, and Dunediri. VHe said that jhe Ministerial propqsals were of so ; thorough i and compfeheti r sive a character, that the of sketching out the jdetails; of ;J>)ie :i necessary Bills had , been, di vided bietween himself and, the Premier, t the latter, undertakinor thp adjtist--ment of districts and the definition of the administrative powers of " the local bodies. The Legislature was also informed m the Governor's Speech that Ministers had prepared for consideration "various "■Bills making provision for granting local bodies larger powers with "a more assured local finance, thus "enabling them to perform their "'important functions without con-, "itinually referring to the Central "Government or to Parliament for "laid and -assistance." Wha,t r the result is bur readers now understand. The one essential and indispensable desideratum is — ways and means.. Let spine one promulgate a scheme by which: funds are to be obtained, arid the details of future administration will not present any insuperable difficulties.