Counties Press for Government Votes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 705, 3 July 1929, Page 10

Counties Press for Government Votes

CUTTING OF GRANTS BRUSHES WITH MINISTER (THE SUNS Partial itarp Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS. Today. Rather sharp brushes occurred at times this morning between members of an Auckland northern counties' deputation and the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works. The deputation repeatedly asked the Minister for his assurance as to what he was going to do, but Mr. Ransom remained firm in giving no immediate answer, but said that he had to bo convinced of the wisdom of his actions. The deputation asked that the amount of automatic allocations for counties for public works this year be not reduced, and that the system of automatic allocation of funds be not varied. Mi*. IT. M. Rushworth, introducing the deputation, which comprised, norern members, said that last year the vote for the counties was £424,000, whereas this year it had been reduced to £400.000. The Whangarei Public Works district was losing £13.000, over 50 per cent, of the total reduction. To economise on backblocks access was going about things in a wrong way. Also, he understood, it was proposed to vary the automatic allocation system. He urged that the present system be adhered to until the Minister had inquired into the situation, and made a personal inspection of the needs of the Far North. He understood that a sum of £IOO,OOO was to be made available for the Minister. Some of that money could be used for automatic allocations, and used as hitherto. The Hon. J. G. Coates discussed means of making the automatic allocation, and urged the Minister to study figures and adhere to the experience of the past, which resulted in an equitable treatment for counties as a whole, in New Zealand. The system could, not be worked with Individual counties without working on figures calculated in 1922. The Minister would be working blindly. He supported Mr. Rushworth in his request. Mr. Luke Webb, chairman of the Whangarei County Council, spoke of heavy charges of settlers for roading, saying that some had to pay for cream cartage £ls on every £I,OOO capital value. Roading would make the land available for subdivision and settlement.