CO-OPERATION OF COUNTY COUNCILS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 376, 19 April 1881, Page 2

CO-OPERATION OF COUNTY COUNCILS.

The following circular has been received by the Geiafdlne County Council, from the Manawatu County Council, enclosing the following important suggestions by a Committee appointed for such purpose. We publish the same forth© earnest consideration of our readers CIRCULAR. At a meeting of the Manuwatu Cou ty Council, held on the 21st February, 1881, the following resolution was passed : “ That a circular be issued. to all County Councils, Borough Councils and Highway Boards, asking them to cooperate in bringing influence to bear on the members representing their, various districts in Parliament, or on candidates offering themselves fox election at the pending general election, to obtain a pledge trom such members (or candidates) that they will do their utmost to compel any Government that may hold the reins of power to assist the local bodies in opening up the country by subsidy, land or endowment ns may be most applicable to each special case, thereby promoting the settlement of the Colony ; anc ,hat a committee of the whole Council sit immediately to draw up the terms of such circular.

Upon report of the committee, the following circular was adopted : 1. That in selling any new block of Crown Land an estimate should be made of the sum per acre required to complete all the roads within such block, and that as land is sold for cash such sum, be handed over to the County Council of the district within which the block is situated for expenditure solely on roads within the blocks sold ; and tint the Government if necessary for financial reason, should add to the upset price of the land the amount required for road making, and guarantee to purchasers that the money so allotted should be spent on the roads in their block by the County Council within three years from the sale, and that the money so received should be handed over at once to the County Council, that with respect to deferred payment land the whole of the half yearly instalments should be handed over to the County Council for road making purposes within the block until one-third of the purchasemoney is paid over, as provided in the original Land Act, 1877, clause 59.

2. That the Government should either apportion a sum equal to th<L**mouat that would have jje&n. payable to Counties and Highways districts for subsidy oa the rates actually collected during the year 1579-80,. under “ The Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, ■’ at the rate of so, much per mile on the mileage of completed roads under the jurisdiction of each County and Highway Board, or that an estimate should be made of the total cost of completion of all uncompleted roads already surveyed within the Colony, and that an amount per mile should be paid annually to each body having the control of such roads, the total of which should be equal to the sum that would have been payable in the shape of subsidy to the County Council and Highways Boards oa the rate actually collected during the year 1879*80 under “The Financial Arrangements Act of 1876 such subsidy to be applied to the construction of new roads only, and to cease, when all the roads within any district V county were complete 1. 3. That either by reduction of the exemption on the Property Tax to say £IOO, by the imposition of school Ifees on all scholars attending State schools who have passed stnndardJlY., by the increase of the beer duty to 6d per gallon, and by the reimposition of the tea and sugar duties> the necessary funds might be easily provided without practically adding to the burdens of the country, as the money spent in road construction would promote the settlement and progress of the Colony to such an extent that both towns and rural districts would be equally benefited. 4. That a subsidy on the rates collected be paid to all Borough Councils or Boards having the exclusive management of townships, the amount to be fixed by the conference hereafter proposed. 5. That if any landed endowments were given ito public bodies within the Colony, such land ought not to be exempted from the deductions made for roadwork asked for in Clause L, and that any local body should have its opiional power to commute its subsidy on a scale to be fixed for an endowment of land.

6. That a conference of delegates from County Councils, Highways Boards, and Borough Councils should meet at Wellington before the session, on the first Wednesday in May next ; place of meeting, &c., to be arranged. 7. That no delegate is to be considered to be bound by any or all of the terms of this circular unless by instruction from the body he represents, and that the mere sending a delegate should not be considered as an acceptance by the local body of the terms of this circular.

8. That “ The Rating Act, 1876” should be so amended as to enable valuations to be made once in three years, and by the County Council of the district only, whieh body should have power to adjust the valuation list annually in cases where I change of ownership or emission in the valuation list rendered stich adjustments | necessary ; Boroughs to make their own | valuation list as at present.

The Manawatu County Council believes that these proposals in substance will meet the necessities of the local bodies throughout New Zealand, and that the general nature of their character is such as to offer a common platform on which action can be taken. At the conference as proposed any suggestion or alterajiejf' can b'e made which will further the object in view, i.e., of bringing Parliamentarypressure to bear on the Government so that the local bodies will be put in a position to fulfil the functions for which they were created. At present their responsibilities are being increased day by day as the Government thrusts large blocks of land into the market without adequate provision for road-making. Clause I. proposes to put a stop to this process, while clause 2 suggests a method under which the present responsibilities of the local bodies may be fulfilled as quickly a& is compatible with the resources of the country. D, H. Macarthub, Chairman, Manawatu County Council.