GOVERNMENT INTENTIONS.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 327, 5 June 1878, Page 4

GOVERNMENT INTENTIONS.

The Grey River Argus of a late date says:—We have now the best of grounds for stating that the Ministry does not intend to propose any separation of the two islands, bub will, in’ one of its measurs propose the increase of the powers and revenues of the various Counties. which is of some importance just now may be mentioned . —it is in tended to carry an act endowing the County Council with grants of land; and if we are right we believe that twenty thousand acres will bo proposed as an endowment to the County of Grey. Upon such a security the County need not be at the mercy of banks which, at the very lime their assistance is required clasp their hands. We are in a position to state that it will form a feature of the policy of the Ministry that the various Counties shall be placed in the position of being able to perform their functions; that Counties which are in an exceptional position will receive liberal assistance, which assistance will have to be shared amongst those more prosperous Counties which have only one difficulty—that being how to get rid of their money. We think wo may venture upon a sketch of the Ministerial programme likely to be presented to Parliament next session. It will include, as wo believe, an extension of the power and authority of the Counties ; it will favor the abolition of the subsidiary Road Board, whose operations have been found to be, almost generally, in conflict with those of the County Councils. Then wo understand there is an intention to impose upon the various Counties the maintenance ol their main roads, subject, however, to a mileage subsidy.