GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 356, 6 April 1910, Page 3

GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

THEIR EXPENDITURE. i : nt<ivs::ij combined protest. Mr. W. J. Tristram, clerk to the Eltham I Vanity Council, had a communication before the Taranaki County Council at Monday's meeting. In it he wrote that at a recent meeting of his Council a circular was received from the Public Works Department intimating that it was the intention of the Covemment to entrust to a large extent the expenditure of grants for road ami bridge works to local authorities. In the circular referred to the following paragraph appeared: —"It must be clearly understood that the cost of supervision, survey, engineering, or clerical expenses, or compensation for land taken, cannot be permitted to be charged against the authority, and such items should not tnereiore be included in the estimate of cost." Although quite willin« to undertake the expenditure of such grants, the Eltlmm Council was of opinion that the conditions of the paragraph referred to would inflict a hardship on the general body of ratepayers of the county or ridings, .and that in fairness a reasonable percentage should be charged against the grants to-cover cost of "supervision, etc. The Department, in replying to the Council's protest in that direction, stated that the Minister was unable to make any modification of the paragraph referred to. At last meeting of the Council a resolution was passed that the views of all county councils in the Tftl'Miaki province be obtained, and that, if they deemed it desirable, concerted action be taken by those interested with the object of endeavoring to arrange for each grant being made to bear the expenses of and incidental to its expenditure. He therefore asked the Council's views on the matter, also whether a conference of the local bodies or independent action was favored.

Cr. Carter said the letter expressed, he thought, the opinions of-all the councillors. They had had two experiences in the Hurworth riding, where two grants had been expended and the cost of administration had had to come from the riding funds. It was very unfair to the other ratepayers. The chairman: Decidedly so.

Upon the motion of Crs. Carter and Tate, a resolution was passed expressing entire sympathy with the 'opinions expressed in the' letter, and favoring a conference.