The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1920. SUBSIDIES ON RATES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 522, 13 April 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1920. SUBSIDIES ON RATES.

The system by which local bodies receive subsidies on rates is manifestly an unsatisfactoiy one. Subsidies are paid on general rates collected, up to 3-4 cl in the £l, but no subsidies are paid for amounts over 3-4 d in the £l, and no county eua secure more than £2500 as subsidies in any one year. On this basis it woilks out that a wealthy coun- j ty, having a high valuation, and where the roads are in such good order that a 3-4 d rate will suffice, gets a proportionately larger subsidy for the rates levied than does a less advanced county where higher rates have to be levied to metal a greater length of tfoads, or poorer roads. In season and out the politicians talk about helping those who help themselves, but by the present system of subsidisation ratepayers of a county or a riding who rate themselves at higher than 3-4 d in the £l, in order to help themselves to obtain good loads receive not one iota more encouragement by way of subsidies on general rates than do those who limit themselves to }od or 3-4 d rate. Obviously, the system is grossly inequitable, and though we do not advocate this change here we believe it would be more equitable to grant subsidies only to those who rated themselves above a certain figure, and to pay subsidies on all rates, say, over a } 2 d in the £l. But what we do definitely submit is that Government, subsidies should be paid on the whole of the general rates collected whicb' would be much fairer than the present system, and would encourage ratepayers to be self-reli-ant ard help themselves, sure in the knowledge that the more they cried to supply their own roading and bridging wants the more the State would assist them.