DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5108, 7 August 1877, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Messrs. Hobbs, Standish, Reynolds, and Steward yesterday waited upon the Hon. Major Atkinson and the Hon. Dr. Pollen, as a deputation from the Municipal Conference. The deputation was most courteously received, and Mr., Hobbs at once proceeded to business by stating the object they had in view in waiting upon the Government. The members of the Municipal Conference were anxious to know if the Government would give them particulars asto the basis upon which the deductions from subsidies to municipalities had been andwouldbemade. Itwasuuderstoodatthe time the Abolition Bill was under discussion that if that Act were passed the municipalities would get their £1 per £1 of rates; and they were very much disappointed at the result, and on applying by letter subsequently for information, an answer was r-eceived which they could not understand. The Conference had there- ' fore appointed a deputation to ask the Government if they could furnish the information. ! It was no use disguising what they wanted this 1 information for. What they wanted was to get < paid a refund of what they thought had been < unfairly deducted, whereby great injustice had I been done to the boroughs. He instanced the s case of Christchurch, and quoted returns of the number of patients in the hospital there, of i whom the greater part were from the country, t hut the burden of whose support was unfairly s thrown upon the town. r Major Atkinson said he was very sorry that I there should have been any mistake in the i matter. He understood that wherever special t returns had been asked for they had been fur- I nished. The deductions were made in accord- n ance with the provisions of the Financial a Arrangements Act. He admitted that there t!

was a mistake in clause 13 of the Act, referring to subsidies payable to boroughs, counties, and road boards ; and difficulties had been caused by certain bodies not having levied rates. The Government intended to introduce a Bill pro- ? that the deductions from subsidies should be on the rateable value of property.

hfr. Staxdish said it was desired to know the actual facts as to each particular body, whether county, road board, or municipality, in the matter of deductions from subsidies Major Atkinson- said he had no objection whatever to furnish full returns containing the information asked for, and the Conference would have them as soon as possible, j l *' intimated that there ought to be no deductions, and a legal opinion had been obtained to that effect; but if deductions were to be made, they should be made on a more equal basis.

Major Atkinson promised to look into thematter ; and_ the deputation, having thanked him and his colleague for their courtesy, withdrew.