THE PEOPLE'S COLUMN.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1921, Page 4

THE PEOPLE'S COLUMN.

(Our columns are quite open to the public for the discussion of matters of public concern. We invite .correspondence, but do not identify ourselves with the views expressed by our correspondents.—Ed.) COUNTY FINANCE. *(To the Editor.) Sir, —In reply to Mr Hemphill'3 letter published in the Advocate of the 26 inst. re figures quoted by me at 'Karamea meeting, re balance sheet 1919-20, I stated that there £8700 transferred to ridings. In making that statement I thought I was stating absolute facts, as I was only quoting the figures that the chairman of the County Council had supplied to the councillors at the meeting of the Council on November 5, 1920. But evidently his figures must be wrong. He states that there was £2602 spent upon main roads. Mr Hemphill says there was only £498 0s 2d. Mr Jones says there was £900 spent upon machinery, and Mi Hemphill says there was only £644, 2s sd. Mr Hemphill's total amount is £1142 2s 7d, whereas Mr Jones says there was £3502 spent. Re balance sheet, I quoted £6800 transfered to ridings. As I could not get a /:opy of the balance sheet I was quoting from memory, and I find I was giving the Council the credit of spending £645 4s 6d more in ridings than actually was spent. Re grants, I never refered to them, as I was not concerned about them, as the Public Works .engineers are quite capable of looking after the spending of them. What I am concerned about is the ratepayers' money.—l am, etc.. P. McKENNA. Maungakaramea.