King Country Chronicle Wednesday, June 18th, 1913 AWAKINO COUNTY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 577, 18 June 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, June 18th, 1913 AWAKINO COUNTY.

The result of the vote of ratepayers taken in the Awakino County to determine the question of whether the County should continue to exißt, or should merge into the adjoining counties, though a small majority in fav our of continuance, presumably mean* that the County will maintain its indivduality. In arriving at such a decision thfi residents have decided wisely, inasmuch aa the present state of the money market decrees that financial assistance to local bodies for some time to come must be limited. The necessity for progress in Awakino is urgent, in so far as progress tneanß the providing of roading facilities in the County; and it is evident to the mast superficial observer that the counties adjoining Awakino will have difficulty in obtaining I "money to carry on road improvements already projected by them. Metal is the pressing need of all the backblock counties, and metalling work can only be carried out by means of borrowed money in the shape special loans. We have been assured by the Government that the policy to be adopted in future with respect to advances would be in the direction of giving preference to those counties which stood most in need of roads, and which had not already received consideration in this respect. Awakino County has up to the present made no demands upon the Advances Department, and would be entitleld to first call in the matter of loans. It is of£the first importance that the settlers should be enabled to promote their loans for metalling purposes with the assurance that tbe monev will be available for the purpose. This insurance is much more probable in the case of the new Awakino County than in respect to the older local bodied which have already had a considerable amount of loan money advanced. Obviously, from the point of view of progress, the Awakino residents have decided wisely, providing full advan tage is taken of the opportunity to raise money. Whether the County aa it exists can be properly worked under a separate local authority of its own is a question which can be finally determined when all the financial assistance possible has been obtained, and the County is on an equality in this respect with its neighbours. In the meantime it is the plain duty of the Councirto make every effort to raise as much money as possible during the winter in order to be in a position to start operations at the first opportunity in spring. A further fact which should not be lost <>ght of is that the Council will have the option of expending the Government grants which will appear on the current years Estimates. It will probably be in the best interests of the district for the Council to undertake the expenditure of these grants, and in to do so satisfactorily the County will require to be equipped and worked so that the business may be conduted without a hitch. The raising of loans by local bodies is a somewhat lengthy and involved process, and any proposals will require to go through without a hitch, otherwise tbe money will not be available until the end of the season, and a year's delay will ensue. It is to be sincerely hoped no time will be lost by the Council in showing that the confidence reposed in that body by the residents is thoroughly justified.