EXPENDITURE OF GRANTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 384, 9 May 1910, Page 3

EXPENDITURE OF GRANTS

(•i'KSTION 01 KXtUNKERING EXI'.^XSKS. The vexed question of the expenditure of Government grunts again cropped up at the Clifton County Council meeting on Friday, when a letter was received from Mr. G. T. Murray, District Road Engineer, asking if the Council were going to under take the expenditure ot balances of the following grants:— Tongaiporutu and Mangaroa (Blauchard s Blu(l') £SO, Kiwi £328 18s. The engineer .said one was a Gft track and the other was not formed. Neither was gazetted as a county road. The Council had decided not to accept certain grants owing to engineering expenses having to come out of general ra'tes. The Department had replied that the largest votes would 'bo expended by the 'public authorities. This amount of £ 328 was the largest grant made to them.

Cr. O'Sullivan stated that some of the settlers at Rerekapa had written Mr. Jennings, M.P., on the question of getting the Kiwi road through to give them an outlet at Okau. They had received a reply from the Minister that the matter was in the Council's hands. This placed the Council in a false position, and also left the settlers between two stools. lie thought something should be done at once even if the Council had to spend some money in administering the vote. The chairman said the position was clear. The Council had written the Department that they would not undertake the expenditure of these votes unless allowed 7'/ 3 per cent, engineeringexpenses. The Department had replied that they would take steps to expend the more important votes.

Cr. Kennington moved that Mr. Murray be informed that the Council cannot undertake to expend these grants for the reason that the Department will not allo.w engineering exlpenses to come out of the grants. —Seconded by Cr. Julian and carri.ed.

Cr. Kennington then moved that the Minister of iPublic Works -be urged to expend grants for roads as soon as possible, as the settlers are suffering great hardships on account of the roads not ibeing made. This was seconded 'oy Cr. Sander and' carried.

Later on a circular was read from the Eltham County Council 'protesting against the system adopted by the Department of ' not allowing engineering expenses to come not of road grants and asking -whether a conference of iw-ii bodies or independent action in the matter was favored. A resolution was passed that the Eltham (County Council be informed that the Council was entirely in sympathy with the circular, and thought the matter icould be better dealt with at the forthcoming Councils' Conference.