ANXIETY ABOUT FUNDS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 18

ANXIETY ABOUT FUNDS.

riccarton avenue work. DOMAINS BOARD'S POSITION. Though a thousand yards of tho fifteen hundred along tho road line of Riccarton avenue have been reconstructed, tlio Domains Board is doubtful whether the work can be completed because of lack of funds. At yesterday's meeting of the Board members thought that a great improvement had been made, but they were uncertain whether the rest of tho Government: subsidy (& 147 has already been paid) would be forthcoming. Every effort is to be mado to finish the work. The chairman (Mr George Harper) explained that they had decided to cliango the projected fence line somewhat so as to preserve a beautiful piece of undulating ground in tho park near the road. They would also keep tho Washbourn stream as it was instead of turning it into a canal. To do this it would mean that the fence lino would not go back so far as anticipated at this point, and the road would bo very little wider. Had they gone back further it would also havo meant filling »p a hollow, which would havo taken hundreds of loads of spoil. He was sure that all would agrco that a great improvement had been made to the road. Mr H. Kitson: What, even the newspapers? Mr Kitson went on to counsel carc in tho expenditure of the money. The Board had decided on £2OO as ita share, and ho did not want to seo them have to pay any more when everyono know they could not afford it. According to his estimate there was a surplus of only £6l now standing. They had been told that the Govornment subsidy of £147 already paid was all they could safely rely upon, so it appeared to him that tho Board was sailing very close to the wind. He did not want to seo the Board carry on with the work and then have to fiud tho extra money. Mr F. Georgo assured Mr Kitson that the commiltoo responsible was being careful, but the position was not nearly so bad financially as ho had painted it. If it was found that they had reached the end of their resources tho work would bo hold up till there was more money available. "T should be very sorry to 6ce this work held up because wo are unable to mako the monoy spin out," remarked tho lion. D. Buddo. "It would be a pity to havo to jjut the men off when tho unemployment position is just at its worst." Air R. B. Owen gave his version of the financial ponition as follows:—■ £ Donation from Trotting Club 200 Subsidy from U.S.A. on £SO of this . . . . 50 Subscriptions collected by him . . . . r.G Domains Board grant .. 200 Total .. £SOG With a Government subsidy of £2 for £..1, he explained, they should have approximately £IOOO available for tho work. Tho distance from the Hospital Corner to the Riccarton Hotel was about 1500 yards. Of this about 1000 yards had been completed, and ho would bo very sorry if the remaining 500 yards could not bo done. Mr M. K. Lyons spoko of tho Government subsidy of £2 for £1 as "a snare and a delusion." Hl3 experience was, he said, that instead of £2 they actually received 16s Bd. This would be more the case on tlii3 work, because much of it had been dono by their own labour, which did not carry a subsidy. Mr W. 11. Winsor: Wo ought now to approach the Government or the Unemployment Board, telling them that, unless tho rest of the subsidy is forthcoming, somo of tho relief workers will havo to bo put off. _ It was decided to try to get the additional subsidy and to go into tho accounts and discover how much money remains unspent.