NEW RULE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4144, 8 June 1949, Page 7

NEW RULE

“ABILITY TO SPEND” STATE SUBSIDIES MINISTRY OF WORKS’ POLICY “ I must emphasise that all applications should be confined to ability to spend,” states a letter from the Ministry of Works, Hamilton, addressed to the Hauraki Plains West Drainage Board and placed before members at its May meeting in Ngatea. The department requested that all applications must be lodged not later than May 31 accompanied by an estimate of all works being undertaken with money provided out of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council’s vote.

“ ‘ Ability to spend ’ is not governed only by financial considerations—the chief factors are manpower, materials, undertaking surveys, preparation of plans and the chances of getting the work under way. In recent years it has been found that local authorities have been so over optimistic as to the amount of work they will accomplish that many items of expenditure have been approved but only part of the vote has been expended. It will be easily understood that this practice is undesirable. It is* necessary to estimate not only the total cost of the work but- also how much will be completed and passed for payment before March, 1950.” The clerk, Mr F. E. Hammond, pointed out that the request had only just been received and that it would be most difficult to comply with the request by the end of the month. In older to try and meet the position and decide upon the work to be carried out in the next year and ascertain the cost of same the board decided to have a special meeting of the board on May 26.