THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4778, 15 July 1876, Page 2

THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BILL.

This Bill was tabled last evening, or rather early this morning. The following is a precis of its provisions : The Provincial Abolition Financial Arrangements Bill, introduced last night, provides that it shall come into operation on September 29. Laud revenue within each district to be charged with expenses of surveys and general administration of waste lands within such district, such expenses to be apportioned by the Commissioner of Audit. Any waste lands sold (not being town lands) at a price above 40s. per acre, the amount realised in excess to be expended in the construction of roads and bridges ; such moneys to be paid either to the governing body of the county or road district, or divided between such bodies, as the Governor thinks fit. If the amount available is not sufficient to carry out such works, the Governor may cause the same to be retained until other moneys have been derived from a like source, or the Governor may direct it to be expended as may seem nearest to the above provisions. The Taranaki land revenue is only subject to the Act after deducting the percentage provided by the Harbor Board Act, 1874. The land revenue of each district to be further charged as follows : —With payment to the then Superintendent of two years’ salary ; with charges imposed hereafter for education; with subsidies to counties and road boards, one pound to one pound; with subsidies to river district boards, one pound to one pound received from rates ; with expenses of construction of railways, viz., for first three years after coming into operation of Act, two per cent, on sums expended ; next three years, If per cent.; next three years, percent.; balance to be divided as follows:—Three-fifths in proportion to the area that each county bears to the whole district, the other twofifths in the proportion that the general rates received by any county or road board bear to the general rates raised in the district from the whole of the counties and road boards therein. If the land revenue in any district should be insufficient to meet the above charges, advances are to be made out of the Consolidated Fund, such advances to be repaid to the Consolidated Fund as the land revenue accrues. Treasury bills may be issued to meet such advances. One pound to be paid annually for five years to every road district and borough for every pound of general rates received during the year, such subsidies to be equally apportioned by the Oolonial Treasurer between road districts and counties ; no subsidy to be paid on any rate in excess of the scale provided by the Act, namely, one shilling in the pound. The Colonial Treasurer may make advances to boroughs and road districts. All licensing fees are to be paid to county or borough within which the licensed premises are situate. Kents from powder magazines to be paid to the Public Account ; and fines and penalties for scab in sheep to be paid to the county within which the same are incurred ; provided only that the coat and charges of administering the enactment are borne by the county. All fines for breach of by-laws to be paid to that governing body whose by-laws have been infringed. Goldfields’ revenue to belong to the county within which it has arisen. The Colonial Treasurer to apportion the revenue where the same has arisen in more than one county according to the proportion of miners’ rights and business licenses in the respective counties. Charitable institutions to be maintained at the cost of the county or borough; but if the governing body fail to provide for the same, the Governor may withhold the payment of the subsidy. Charitable institutions are not to include lunatic asylums. Out of the Consolidated Kevenue a subsidy of five shillings for every pound raised by private subscription is to be paid for maintenance of charitable institutions. The cost and charges of providing primary public education within counties and boroughs, after deducting the fees and other revenues received by the Board of Education and Consolidated Revenue shall be borne as follows ; Two-thirds to be charged to the land revenue received within each provincial district provided by sub-section three of section nine, and one-third thereof on Consolidated Kevenue. All charges for inspection of schools provided by the Education Board Act, 1876,' to be home by the Consolidated Kevenue. After this Act has been in operation five years so much as the General Assembly shall determine of the charge of keeping the school buildings in repair and erecting new buildings shall be borne by the counties and boroughs in which such-school Jbuildings are situated.'

With respect to the schools for higher education, revenues of which from endowments or school fees may from time to time be added to by votes of General Assembly, such votes shall from time to time be charged against the land revenue of the district. As soon as conveniently may be after the coming into operation of the said Act, the Governor in Council shall cause an account of debts and liabilities of each district to be taken from time to time as occasion may require. Debts and liabilities of each district shall comprise the following matters and things ; —Payment of interest and sinking fund; all loans which at date of abolition of provinces comprised within the district were chargeable against the province, payment of all other debts, liabilities, and engagements of every kind whatsoever, together with interest thereon, at a rate not exceeding five per cent, per annum; payment of interest and sinking fund of any loans raised for purpose of paying off or otherwise providing for such debts, liabilities, and, engagements of such district. Any expenditure which under the Provincial Appropriations Extension Act, 1875, or under the said Act, the Governor or Governor in Council has authorised any Superintendent to make up to 30th day of September, 1876, and which expenditure has not been made, shall be held to be a liability of the district in which incurred, and the Governor shall accept same and take all necessary measures to insure that the money is'expended in accordance with the original intention. No person employed as above is to acquire any right under the Civil Service Act. The balance of provincial liabilities are to be raised by Treasury bills on loan; and amounts so raised are to be added to the provincial debt of the district. Any cash in hand in in excess of the provincial debt is to be expended in the provincial district as agreed upon between the Governor and the late Superintendent. Clause 32 makes provision for the extinguishment of provincial loans. Permanent provincial officers are to become officers of the General Government, though not to acquire any right under the Civil Service Act of 1866. Members .of the House of Representatives holding office under the Provincial Government are not to be liable to disqualification, provided that they resign such office. All railways are to be the property of the colony, and provincial districts are to be relieved of all liability in respect thereof. With respect to the Canterbury branch railways, the £19,000 paid by the Government for such branch railways is to be considered in arriving at the amount to be deducted from the permanent debt of the district. The provincial railways in Otage and Canterbury are to be taken over by the General Government at a valuation to bo fixed by three valuers—one to be appointed by the Minister for, Public Works, one by the Superintendent, and a third by the other two. The unexpended portionof the Middle Island rail way fund is tobecreditedto the district. Waterraces and such like to be vested in governing bodies of the county; and if such works extend into more than one county, the control and management is to be vested in such governing body as the Governor shall think fit, or jointly in the control of both. Such works to be kept in repair by the county, and in case of neglect the Governor may withhold subsidies. The Governor may agree to pay £IO,OOO towards the completion of the Mikonui water-race, in addition to existing appropriations, but on condition that the governing body of the county must complete the said race. Sections 14 to 16, 18 to 22, and 24 of the Abolition of Provinces Act are repealed.