GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 179, 27 January 1912, Page 5

GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

SAVING THE ADMINISTRATION COST. , . Settlers want good roads and are al- 1 ways complaining that the Government will not help them, ' When v however, an opportunity comes their way, thqy do not show any special desire to help themselves. This was exemplified at the ■' meeting of the Whangamompna County Council oa Wednesday, when the ques- v tion of expending a Government grant— Whangamomona to Wangauui river—came up for discussion. At laßt meeting the Council decided to expend the grant themselves, and not wait for'the Public Works Department to do so. On Wednesday a letter was received from Mr. W. S. Short, Assistant UnderSecretary for Public Works, asknowledging receipt of the, Council's letter intimating its willingness to undertake the expenditure of the vote offered for the above road. He pointed out that the sum of £ 198, which was mentioned, had been authorised by the Resident Engineer to enable him to carry out certain work, and it was understood that the Council concurred in the engineer doing th» work. Including this sum, £9OO of the £2OOO had been authorised to the Resident Engineer, so that there would ~ thus be £llOO for the Council to expend.. The letter was sent, he concluded, so that there should not be any misunder»> standing in the matter. • ' *'«• A deputation consisting of eight settlers on the road, beaded by Messrs. '' Geever and Bradley, waited on the Council, and protested strenuously against the money being sjient by the County - Council on the conditions accepted, viz., that the .road should.he charged with administration expenses. They wanted *the : Council to rescind that resolution, and inform the Public Works Department to go on ■with'the work. Cr. Diggins: On what grounds do you want it' rescinded? \

Mr. Geever: Because if the Government expend it. it will cost us nothing, . whereas if the Council expend it we will - have to pay :'or the administration. Cr. Digging asked numerous questions and the discussion at times grew wither warm, Mr. Geever ultimately ejaculating, "You live in Strathmore. What do you know about it? We are the settlers interested. We object. That ought to , be final." «

After some discussion the chairman said that the councillors were there t« comply with the settlers'wishes. They I accepted the expenditure, of this money ' because the Government was so dilatory in expending the money, and they ■ thought that it would be much better for the settlers if the Council took over the expenditure and' made the road at once, even if it cost the settlers 7% per \ cent, for administration, than wait for years for the road to be made by the i. Public Works Department, even if it ' was done free. As the settlers protested, he was quite willing to rescind the motion. >

| Cr. Bacon pointed out that most of the deputation present were on a dray road, and not on the six foot track. Mr. Bradley said' that every settler on, the Whanga road objected,' although ■ t the deputation fully recognised that the , Council acted in good faith. The position " now wai the same as it was 12 months - &go, when the Council refused to accept I the expenditure of these grants. Cr. McCutchan then moved that the resolution dealing with the expenditure * of grants be rescinded, and that the Gov- ' ernment Roads Department be requested ,'|j to undertake the expenditure of tie road grants offered to the. local Council, >'■ as the administrative expenses of this expenditure would be too heavy a burden upon the rate revenue of the district > m view of the fact that the ! entire area, of the county is of nigged character and of papa formation, subject in the past and for many years to come to cob-* stantly recurring slips, the repairs and"- 7 maintenance charges of .which have al- " ; ready placed upon the ratepayers a serious financial responsibility- for the Upkeep of all those roads vested in the Council's control by the Government, and an increase of this Responsibility such as 1 that suggested would in this Council's opinion very gravely prejudice the future welfare of a young and struggling distinct.

Cr. McCutchan spoke at length and : very forcibly on the subject.' " " i '■< Crfc. Jury, Coyne, McCutchan, arid the chairman voted in favor and Cra. Biff* gins, Bacon, Robertson and Clelarid against the motion; The chairman gave ' his casting vote against. Cr. Coyne then moved that the matter be deferred till neixt meeting, but that the Government be written to'in terms ; of the latter part of the previous motion. This was seconded by the chairman. Vr ' On a division the voting wasprecisely the same as previously, arid the chair- J man again gave his casting vote, against x - Cr. Bacon objected on the ground that 1 , it was extraordinary business and r<£ quired notice bf motion. He a]kp--Em'to ft point cEf dressing the deputation and not the >' chairman, but was not , upheld by the -i----.chairman. .... . 'ifl Qr. Coyne seconded pro forma. ; The deputation remained in the room White the discussion was proceeded <iWtK 1 and occasionally took part in the de-. bate. considerable discussion, the motion was put, arid on a division the' voting was even. The mattev now remains as before, and at next lWefeting deputations will prob- ' ably again wait o%bo Council and )ay both sides of before tlie Council. \