DEADLOCK REACHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 286, 3 December 1930, Page 8

DEADLOCK REACHED.

DEVONPORT PROPOSALS. MINISTER REJECTS SCHEME. UNABLE TO COMMIT GOVERNMENT. The proposals of the Devonpovt Borough Council for tlie reforming of Queen's Parade have been rejected by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence. Last "week the acting-Mayor. Mr. J. Hislop, telegraphed to the Minister suggesting that the Defence Department make a grant of £1000 towards the work, on the ground that the undertaking was one the Government should shoulder, and that the Minister of Labour be asked to arrange with the Unemployment Board to subsidise that amount in accordance with its proposals. Mr. Hislop received from Mr. Cobbe to-day a reply stating that there was no item in the current Naval estimates from which the sum required for the repairs could be taken, and that therefore nothing could be done in the matter. On receipt of this advice, Mr. Hislop telegraphed the Minister offering that Devonpore would undertake to find the money if the Government could not do so, provided the Government m turn would undertake to make provision m next year's Estimates for the sum involved*. The Minister replied that he was afraid he could not commit the Government so far ahead. 'T am very sorry to think that things have come to such a pass that a Minister of'the Crown cannot commit himself to the sum of £1000 until next year's Estimates are framed," said Mr. Hislop in commenting on the Minister's decision. "It is now three <;r four years since these negotiations between the borough and .the Government were started, and both the late Sir Joseph Ward and Sir Thomas Wilford agreed that something along the linos suggested should be done by the Defence Department, to provide Jie facilities necessary at the Naval base, and that it was not entirely expenditure that should be borne by the ratepayers of Devonport." SCHOOL COMMITTEES' CASE. EDUCATION BOARD DECISION. Discussion arose this morning at the Auckland Education Board meeting over the granting of moneys for unemployment 5 relief to school committees whose funds included voluntary contributions. The Education Department stated that so far as school committee subsidies were concerned, the board had full knowledge of what committees had urgent ground improvement work do. where such work contained 50 per cent of labour based on 14/ a day, and where there was acute unemployment in the district. The Department advised that where the committees could show that tlicy had voluntary contributions to the extent of one-third of the estimated cost, the board should at once communicate with the district engineer of the Public Works Department. Mr. S. B. Sims: The board should handle these matters. They should not be left in the hands of the committees. It should also decide on a definite policy. I want to be able to tell my committees; what that policy is. If the scheme had been approved by the board's architect, said Mr. E. C. Purdie, the board should telegraph those committees with voluntary contributions available, instructing them to_ apply through the board to the district engineer for a subsidy as suggested. This proposal was adopted by the meeting. ONEHUNGA EX-SJERVICEMEN. All unemployed ex-servicemen resident in Onehunga are offered employment by the Onehunga. Borough Council. This lias been made possible by the subsidy received from the Government on money collected by the Ex-Sci\ ii/> men's Club on Flag Day and a donation by the Borough Council, making a total of £400. Sixteen men have already been engaged to start work on the Onehunga Esplanade next Monday, and others will be taken on after tney lia\e registered with the secretary of tlie club, ilv. N. A. Ching, at_ the otllce of the Onehunga Building Society. j northcote proposals. Application has been made by the Northcote Borough Council for approval of a subsidy of £2 for £1 on proposed work to cost £158. Work will be put in hand as soon as authority is received from the Unemployment Board. The expenditure -proposed is for the completion of the wharf approach rocker} and footpath construction. a CONDITIONS TOO HARSH." "The conditions of the subsidy are so harsh that it'is impossible for us to take Advantage of the offer, said Mr. Cawkwell, chairman of the Waitemata County Council. "We are of opinion that the only way out is for the Government to make a free grant of the money. Through assisting in the relief ol unemployment most of the local bodies are pretty well bankrupt, and they can - not raise further sums. As far as the board's offer is concerned, the ' whole thing is a big joke. They are giving the money, yet not giving it." Mr. Cawkwell added that the council had one work that would have been suitable for unemployment relief, but the conditions to be complied with prevented application being made for the subsidy. DARGAVILLE DISMISSALS. (By Telegraph. —Owi Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, this day. With but 24 hours' notice, 16 men in the Post and Telegraph Department's construction gangs in North Auckland were put off over the week-end. Of the 1G there were 10 in this district.