TOOK PITY ON THEM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 65, 16 March 1916, Page 2

TOOK PITY ON THEM.

THE PENITENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Recently, it will be remembered, on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W. Fraser) to Auckland, a deputation waited on the hon. gentleman, in penitent mood, to appeal to the Government to come to the rescue of the Waitemata County Council, which had overspent its allocations in respect of several public .orks. One of these was the Dairy Flat Road, in the Wade, in respect of which the Council had not only undertaken unauthorised work, but had sinned in vain, because the expenditure was insufficient to complete the task. Accordingly the deputation asked forgiveness in its first breath, and for authority to spend another £500 in the next. The Minister very promptly scolded in no measured terms the Council for the liberties it had taken, which he declared would create an impossible position if generally indulged in, and very reluctantly promised to give consideration to the further request. Since then, however, the member for the district (Mr. A. Harris) has pointed out the urgency of the metalling work in the interests of the settlers, and as a result has just received an intimation from the Minister that he will provide for a £250 grant on the £1 for £1 subsidy.