The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1874.
The 22nd clause of the Goldfields District Act provided that "Out of the revenues of the Province, subject to appropriation of tho Superintendent and Provincial Council of the Province, a sum of money equal to one half of the revenue derived from the sale or leasing of land, or from miners' rights, or business licenses, within any district, after the 31st day of March next, after the passing of this Act, shall iu each year be paid to the Boards, to bo by them appropriated in the construction and maintenance of roads, streets, bridges, ferries, aud other public works." Therein was comprised the essence of the Act, the delegation of local expenditure of public moneys to local authorities. Tho repeal of the clause, at the instigation of tho now Provincial Executive, annuls this intent, and leaves the Boards at the mercy of the Superintendent —directed by his Executive —who may, by the 23rd clause, if he tldnhs fit, commit to tho Boards tho expenditure of any moneys appropriated by the Provincial Council. It will be a question for tho serious consideration of the Boards whether under present circumstances it will be worth while to continue in office. The whole system of local rating, and tho acquiescence of property holders to be rated, depended on the assurance of a certain proportion of the provincial revenue, locally derived, beinu paced to the credit of tho Boards. Without it the revenue from local rating will, iu the majority of cases, do little or no good. It will be better for the Boards to resign their duties to the Provincial Government, and get rid of tho responsibility of keeping roads and bridgesinrepairunless tho wherewithal is more certainly assured t'.-iem. What Board will now insist on tho collection of rates, or what ratepayer will willingly make payment, now that so great an uncertainty remains as to the Provincial Government supplementing such rates by a single penny from the provincial revenues ?
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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1183, 9 June 1874, Page 2
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332The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1874. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1183, 9 June 1874, Page 2
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