LOCAL BODIES AND " ASSURED FINANCE."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 459, 26 August 1919, Page 2

LOCAL BODIES AND " ASSURED FINANCE."

■ •-♦■ ■ —- " Asst'RKD finance" wasonco a phrase that indicated a Land of Promise to local bodies throughout the Dominion. Brielly, it was on the cards that instead of being erratically given grants every now and then -according to the loudness of popular clamour, and the strength of the political pull—every local body would be -ranted a certain fixed sum of Slate money annually. There were various proposals as a basis of calculation for this "assured finance," but the only really sound one appears to be lhat favoured by the Counties' Association namely, a fixed subsidy proportionate to the rales c dketed by the respective local bodies. This conclusion

was arrived at after the whole question was exhaustively threshed out. But, alas! the Land of Promise did not materialize, and local bodies are still in the same old nonsensical state of uncertainty in respect to their meed of State funds. Whereas they should know at the beginning of the financial year just how much money would be available for that year, still the same old chaos reigns, their prospects of financial assistance depending on the wayward will of the Ministers of the various Departments. These gentlemen must be either cajoled or forced into doling out grants. One need not be an intellectual giant to know that the result must be highly unsatisfactory to the ratepayers, and that a most unfair distribution of funds results. Whatever party they may belong to, the candidates who can assure the electors of their possession of a sincere desire for reform in this matter will certainly merit respect for that part of their platform.