THE FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 206, 23 June 1914, Page 2

THE FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Big Reading Scheme. j Deputation to Prime Minister. i At iii° last meeting of the Franklin County Council it win dec id d to wait upon the Prime Minister airJ ask for a £ for £ subsidy on a loan I of £50,000 or £OO,OOO, which it h 1 j proposed'to raiae for mad-making purposes. Particulars of the proposal hue already appended in the "Timas." On Saturday last the deputation | appointed by the County Council 1 waited upon the Prime Minister at j the Grant! hotel, Auckland, j Mr C. Moiio i, chairman of the Council, said that the Council had i dcsiral to aboli li the uyatem of fritteiing away a large number of small euni3 o:i road-making, which | did not result in much benefit .It , I was proposed t"> raise as laigT a loan . j a? possible for the purpose of placing the roads in first-class order, and a I £ for £ subsidy on the loan would | | not amount tj more than the county ; received in grants under the prtsoU i j system. Ur Campbell (llunua ridiitf) said 1 that if the proposed subsidy were granted no other grants would be ! required. It was proposed to raise a loan of £50,000 or £OO,OOO, spread over three or four years. As the Council received about £20,000 i.i grants at prese.it, there would thus be no increase in the assistance required from the Government. !| Mr Massey: You say that if the , subsidy asked for were granted you would not require any other Pariia- ! mentary grants'.' ; Cr Campbell: No; except under i such extraordinary circumstances as j that of repairing damages by Hoods ' cr rebuilding an important bridge, j Crs J. Flanagan, J. Henry, H. Wilcox. K. Lyons and Mr McArthur i (county erginecri also spike in Eupj port of the proposal. PRIME MINISTER PLEASED. I The Prime Minister said that he I did not think that the Council would I havo (my difficulty in securing a loan from the State Advances Dc--1 partment, although lie cruld not | say whether £(50.000 would be ■ granted, ai a great deal dep-.nded i upen the purposes to which it was to be applied. He did not think j the money could be used for te. air- | ing work. The idea oi the subsidy | rather appealed to him, sceiig that ! it was stated that practically no 1 other Parliamentary grants would be asked for by the Council. The Government intended to introduce a Hill this year dealing with the question of Parliamentary grants and subsidies I) local bodies. In the I meantime he did not see why such lan arrangement villi the Franklin Council as supg. sted should not be 1 entered into, and he would confer J with the ftlicistcrs for Finance I I and Public Works on the subject, j lie was pleased that the Council proposed to enter upon a progressive ! policy, ard !:e would be glad to assist j i them as far as possibl \