THE GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY COUNCILS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2958, 30 June 1891, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY COUNCILS.

In view of the probable needs of our northern counties in the matter of roads and bridges maintenance, the following particulars of an interview recently granted by the Premier to a deputation of troldtield M.H.R's. and County Council delegates will be read with inforest:—The Hon. T. Kerens explained that the deputation wished to placo before the Government the positiou of County Council", and the fact thut they would be imablo to carry out their work with the revenue at their command. Ho pointed out that the gold duty had been abolished, and then the Crown Lands Rating Act had been repealed, which was oven worse. The Councils had been brought into their present position by Inning to maintain roads which opened up and developed Crown lauds, and the Government should render them assistance by restoring their source of revenue to a safe and better basis. —Other members said it was impossible to carry on unless they received a subsidy for maintaining roads and bridges, and also thought that County Councils were entitled to some consideration from the Government as they assisted so very largely to develop the Crown lands.—ln reply, Mr Ballance referred to the repeal of the Crown Lauds Rating Act, and said it had been done at the request of the majority of the members of Parliament and he could hold out no hopes of its being restored. As to the gold duty, the northern portion had not asked to be relieved from paying it, and if a request for a grant from the Treasury were acceded to, the northerners would also have a good claim on the Government. He did not think the Government could make them any allowance whatever. The matter had, however, n9ver been brought under the notice of the Government before, but he advised the deputation to look round for some other means of revenue. He mentioned that in looking over the balance-sheets of the County Councils he found that the departmental espenses wero very heavy as compared with expenditure in works, and thought before asking for assistance the Councils ought to bring down their departmental expenses to the narrowest limit. In reply to the suggestion that as a way out of the dilliculty the Government take over the roads, Mr Ballance said the Government, he might say at ouce, would not take over the roads, and an to a trraut from the Treasury that was a matter for consideration, but it was uot at all likely that any grant would be made.