LOCAL BODIES FINANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1903, Page 8

LOCAL BODIES FINANCE.

AMENDMENTS NECESSARY.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

(By TelopraNi.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

On the third reading of the Road and Town Districts Rating Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Massey took the opportunity to again refer to the question of giving graduated subsidies to local bodies.

The Premier, in replying, expressed the opinion that the time had now arrived when there should-be some system of graduated subsidies on the principle that those who helped themselves should be helped by the colony. The matter would ' have the consideration of the Government, who would do their best to amend the present position. He referred to the difficulty of coping with the very varied interests of the different parts of the colony, evidence of which had been shown when the Local Government Act was under, consideration. He considered that within the boundaries of a county there should be no other local body, for reasons of economy in administration, nnd to prevent the multiplication of officials and salaries. He would be- pleased to re-introduce the Local Government Bill, but would approve of a Commission be-ins first set .ire to s=n"bniv-irif fhe col-Oiy nrid fnvwtisTfl fcp requirements of the local bodies which would wor 1 -- iinder the proposed Act.