Cuts in Govt funding

Press, 19 May 1984, Page 24

Cuts in Govt funding

PA New Plymouth Catchment authorities can almost certainly expect less Government funding in the next financial year The bad news was broken to New Zealand's 20 authorities at their annual conference in New Plymouth. The director of the Ministry of Works and Development's water and soil division, Mr Ross Howard, said under-spending last year meant that the division's budget was likely to be cut from $B7 million to $BO million. That would mean a subsequent cut in funds to catchment authorities, which last year received $33 million just for catchment works Such works would be substantially reduced, along with irrigation and rural water supplies. Less money would also he available for administration, research, and grants. Mr Howard said the authorities would still be able to live comfortably in their reduced budget, but could forget about any “new buildings" for the moment. The Government was moving more toward a policy of user pay and there was "a continual’ battle for funds from the Treasury which believed present subsidy grant rates weie too generous, he said.