A CHARGE DENIED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 680, 3 December 1909, Page 5

A CHARGE DENIED.

-S ME, HIKE AND LOCAL BODIES. ;.>,-. ' A replyoras made by Mr. Hino (Stratford) yesterday to the charge made. against him by the Prime Minister last Monday of sendinga telegram to a local-body .niviting.-.thoit ' instructions'to himself to'oppose the provision garding sinking funds' ::in the' 'State Guaran-' ; teed Advances Bill. Ho had obtained copies of ■ the letters—there was ■ho telegram—vrhich he had sent to local bodies, and 'they • would shoiv how ridiculous and unfair the information given .to the Prime ■ Minister'Vas," The letters were as follow:—. •:> ■ ... "The Chairman, Stratford County Council. , "Dear Sir,—l shall be-'very pleased to have the opinion of yourself and other councillors on the proposed, measure entitled' the Nen , Zealand State Guaranteed Adrances.Aot, especially, that part relating to loans to , local,bodies and sinking funds.' It Abolishes the old principle of assistance from tho Consolidated Fund. Tho whole . burden is-, to ■ bov placed' on .tho local body, and in addition another half per cent is to be charged foi Departmental administra tion. Tho Bill mil probably be committed carlj noxt neck, so shall bo grateful for early oppression of opinion —I am. yours faithfully, J. B. Hine." . "To the Chairman of tho Whangamomona County Council. "Tho now measure proposed by tho Government ontitlod the New-Zealand State Guaranteed Adrances Act contains a clause (No. 72) which repeals tho present very satisfactory method of payinc to tho sinking,, funds under Loans to local Bodies Act, and in its place proposes that tho local authority shall pay current rate of interest charged by Government, nnd in addition shall provide its own sinking fund, and in addition one-half per cent, is charged for administration purposes of tho Government. Will you kindly let mo know what you and your colleagues think of thi? proposal? I doubt if it will bo advisable ,to uaifc until your council moots again, as prob nbry tho Bill will be committed at tho begin ning of next woek If yoh cannot obtain anj discussion on. the councillors, let mo have jajir lndradual'-opinten. if'agree<Ahk^CQJ!Bllir

The Prime Minister' said thatvthe ■;lettc* ■;? which he had received from the/Whangamo.:':' , .:; mona County -Council expressing opposition. t« ;>)! the clause stated that Mr. Htoo had written../: to, the County Council advising them-to-op.', i' pose-tho-proposal..; He ; admitted that ; Mr.^.;' Hine: had acted. within his rights, but stated ',■;» that the letters amounted to revests, to th« ; ' : | local/bodies to oppose the proposal in, the' , 'i Bill, (Opposition members: Nothine: of-the v I ■sort,) 1 The ■letters; were..worded', so as to sug-. -i j; Best the answer that was expected. The Prime *■: M Minister, went on to 'suggest that, the resolu-'/.W! tion Passed by a meeting of ratepayers in.' ■s>, the Whangamomona.district was the resnlt of siy Mr. Hine's letter. '■■' '■'•'• ■ ''. . "-</; : . '/.'.•■ v';?;

;'• Replying to an interjection, the Prime Mini-•';••'$ ster said he never prompbed meetings in any part <;/■ y of the country in regard to Government pro-1 '5 posals, and he never prompted, cxpressionsrof "/'I opinion which wore made to appear voluntary, <"~/$ ' Mr.. Hine'stated that, tho description of. the , -M Bill, to whioh the. Prime Minister had objected; /.-J was taken from-the. marginal in. the; : : '.-:i| measure.. ..■,' ■ ~:.:' ■",■ '■.: ■■■ ■' ,::':.:> ■:: : .' : //-^;

'. j IMTOKT SUPPLY .The following schedules show the. allocation;■'.'.'!■'•{ of the .£494,000 for which an.',lmprest SoBply ; • ■'% Ball was passed yesterday:— . •.. •. : ■■•■';] First -Sohedulo.—The Consolidated : Fund, ' .t £350,000 ; the Public Works Fund, JeiOO,OOOi>> : '.'M the State . Coal-mines' account, £3S),W); :.■ total* f , :■'" .£480,000. , V:// , •-:'■ ... -•■.■/■>-.V' ; ..:" , ..?:v.:; , i,^ Second Schedule.—The Government Instuv.': i ;i ance account, JE7000; the Government ' Accident!; *-a Insurance account, £1000; tho ' State' Eire . la-| :-.:■ sv] suranco mconnt, .£1500;* the . Public : .Trustj j;;! Office account, £350H;' tho Ad-,,V' 'i vances to Settlers, Office account, wESOO;' th* ;vU'i Government Advances to /Workers Office ao-', Ja; count, .£200; total;"£13,000." ■■". '•■■•' : The Prime Minister stated thaMieyamount; :- v : was smaller thsa usual; was no* '"'■. /« required to last «.' foil month. ': ~ v,".' , '»;;!