TELEGRAMS. "ABSOLUTELY ROTTEN."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1911, Page 3

TELEGRAMS. "ABSOLUTELY ROTTEN."

SYSTEM OF GOVERNMEN3S3 GRANTS. [BS TK.EGBAPH — SPECIAL TO THS POST.] AUCKLAND, This Day. Some plain criticism of practices that are stated to sometimes obtain in regard to the allocation of Government grants was indulged in at yesterday's conference of delegate from the local bodies ia the Manakau county. Mr. Morgan, a Pukekohe delegate, who brought 1 the matter up, said that frequently when a local body applied to the Government for a grant it was unable to get it on the ground of "no funds." Yet very often a private individual came along and got it. The chairman (Mr. E. Allen) : He has got a- pull. (Laughter.) Mr. Morgan said that in some cases the expenditure of such grants benefited only one individual. He thought all applications for grants should be endorsed by a local body. The chairman said the whole system was "absolutely rotten." He had a great deal of sympathy with members of Parliament who wsre continually being pestered with applications from constituents for "£SO for my hill" and: "£SO for my gully." The Government should recognise some' well-defined rule in this matter. Some roads were practically paved with Government soveTeigns, while others were nothing but dust, the explanation being that in the former case a man lived there who was a Government supporter and had sufficient political pull to work the wires successfully. Mr. A. E. Mallsopp, (Waiuku) said ■that if a private individual wished to apply for a grant he should do it through the local body. He coufd then •pull the strings as hard as he liked. Mr. J. Brady (Ofcahuhu) said that even if a private individual obtained a grant the expenditnrre of the money was controlled by a local body. Mr. Monlgom'erie (Mangere) said he did not know before that "such things •were done." It was "absolutely rotten." On the chairman's motion it was TeBolved that the Government be asked •to make grants only upon the recommendation of a local body. INFECTIOUS DISEASE CASES. DISABILITIES OF COUNTRY PEOPLE. [BI TELEGSAPH— SPECIAL TO THE POST.] AUCKLAND, This Day. In the course of a discussion on the 'Infectious Diseases Control Act at a conference of delegates from the Manukau local bodies yesterday, several delegates raised their voices on behalf of thedisabilities under which the country districts laboured when cases of infectious diseases occurred. One delegate pointed out thafc the Railway Department, in answer to enquiry, had stated that a, coach was kept for the purpose of bringing people suffering from a serious disease into town, but that three days' ■notice would b© required before th* coach could be available, which meant, said the spe&ker, that the patient in most cases would be dead and buried before the coach was at hand, and when used five first-class tickets must be taken out, >T?h-ilo if attached to an express it -would stop at flag stations. What was the 'use of such a conveyance in a case of emergency? he asked indignantly. It ■was resolved that the Railway Department be asked to supply the necessary means of transit for patients suffering irom infectious diseases by the first train after application. SECONDARY EDUCATION. NEW SCHOOL AT PALMERSTON OPENED. [B* TELEGBAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.I PALMERSTON N., This Day. Yesterday the opening of the new Palmerston North High School was performed in perfecfc weatiiher. The chairman (Mr. CoUingwood) said the board' was appealing to Palmerston citizens for £700 to complete the hall 01 , the school and he thought they would . get it. The board owed a debt of gratitude to the Government for itssupport. The school was on a ten-acre section given by the citizens of Palmerston North and vahied at £4000. The balance left over annually after the expenses of the school had been met was so small that it was impossible to carry oat any suggested improvements. He hoped the Mayoress would be successful in raising sufficient funds to wipe out the debt. The ' Rector (Mr. J. E. Vernon) said the school would be splendidly equip.ped, especially as regards scientific apparatus. The accommodation was for 225 and th& Toll now stood at 204. Altogether over 1000 pupils had passed' fchrongh the establishment. Th© Hon. G. Fowlds said he was both Ead and 1 glad to perform the opening ceremony — sad at the expenditure of so much money and glad to see the school progress. He had raised tihe grant £700 more than had been regarded as sufficient by the Government, doing this on the understanding that the board should raise from the public the further £70U still required, and having stuck to his bargain he expected the board to stick to theirs. Mr. i'owlds referred to the great progress made in secondary education last year. Over 500 more received it in 1910 than in 1909. This increase of expenditure called for good results, and he believed that the teaching was more efficient. The teachers were putjng heart into their work and the training colleges were equipping them better. Technical education was equipping young people for life's battle better thaa before.