Local Body Grants “Sock” Ratepayers

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29865, 4 July 1962, Page 12

Local Body Grants “Sock” Ratepayers

If all local bodies were giving away as much money in grants as the Paparua County Council was being asked to give, it seemed that the ratepayers were being “socked” for a fairly heaw annual amount, said Mr J. H. Weaver, the county chairman, when the council met last evening.

“I wonder if the ratepayers know that their rates are being given away to the extent it appears they are?” said Mr Weaver.

The council had before it four requests for money. These, according to the order Paper, were from:—

The Christchurch Civic Orchestra Foundation, requesting continuation of the present annual grant of £72 10s for a further year. The St. John Ambulance Association, requesting financial assistance. The Royal Humane Society. requesting financial assistance. The Hornby South School committee, requesting a donation towards the provision of sports equipment, etc.

It was decided, on the finance committee’s recommendation, that the first and last requests be refused, and that donations of £5 5s and £1 Is be made to the St. John Ambulance Association and the Royal Humane Society respectively.

"All And Sundry’’ The council was continuallybeing asked for donations by all and sundry, said Mr Weaver. The council dealt with only part of the ratepayers’ local-body business, the remainder being done by ad hoc authorities—“which are also in the position of being able to demand their rates, and then give them away,’’ Mr Weaver said. If the council was continually getting applications for donations to various bodies, it seemed that other bodies must be getting them too, Mr Weaver said. He quoted a newspaper report of a body which had increased a grant to the St. John Ambulance Association from £2O to £3s—although the St. John Ambulance Association

was a worthy organisation, and one with which the Paparua council itself should not “quibble” about a grant, he said. But if all local bodies were paying grants, it seemed that the ratepayers were being “socked” for a fairly heavy annual contribution, Mr Weaver said. Cr. W. L. Ragg agreed that the paying of grants would soon have to stop. The ratepayers, individually, were being asked to contribute to various causes—scarcely a week’s end went by without an approach from some organisation for money “Dishing Rates Out" Cr. H. W. Bennett said he was not content with the thought of the council collecting rates, "and then proceeding to dish them out to all and sundry.” “I think we have to give to everybody, or give to none.” he said. It was decided to advise the Civic Orchestra Foundation that the council could not see its way clear to extend financial assistance beyond the two years originally agreed to, and the Hornby South School committee that it was eligible for four hours' free work each year by council machinery.