DECENTRALISE SPENDING?

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1932, Page 6

DECENTRALISE SPENDING?

Decentralisationofadministration, was advocated by "Mr. T. D.; Burnett, M;P., in ah address at'Temuka. He argued that the (Government and the country could safely be left more in the hands of local bodies. Those who belonged to local bodies, and had the spending of money, he said, also had to assist in provision of the finances and rash spending was thereby considerably curbed. But are Mr. Burnett's facts correct, and how do they "agree with statements made by local bodies and ratepayers? We hear numerous demands from the country for de-fating. Already there is a measure of derating through motor taxation and the assistance thus given to rural local authorities. If administration has been so wise and expenditure so well controlled, how comes it that .the cost is deemed burdensome, and even beyond bearing? • -Perhaps the decentralising that is desjred is, however, to apply only to expenditure, and with it; therei will go a greater measure of centralisation of the collection of funds—from some class other than'-the, rural ratepayer.