LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 283, 27 May 1912, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL

THfl RESTRICTED LOANS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Saturday. A deputation, headed by Mr. A. Jull, chairman of the Counties' Association, waited on the Minister of Finance yesterday. ■ Mr. Jull said that the deputation desired to place before the Minister the position of county councils with respect to their inability to complete their road requirements on account of not 'having sufficient facilities for borrowing money. They understood that the Department was willing to advance only to £SOOO in respect of any one local authority, and would like to know whether they might hope for the amount to be raised. Mr. Myers said he had decided that applications for loans up to £SOOO alone could be considered. In two years over two millions had been advanced to local bodies, and they would realise that no government could grant "ad lib." to any local authority. His sympathies were with the settlers who wished to obtain roads, bridges and other necessities. Applications of that kind would be more favorably considered than those from more settled districts for town halls, etc. He concluded by informing the deputation that nothing definite had yet been decided upon.