That Official Information.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 6, 11 September 1906, Page 5

That Official Information.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have read with interest a letter written by Mr. Nawton, dated 21st August, re official information, and also a reply by “ Locksley.” Ido not intend to defend Mr. Nawton, as I do not think he would thank me for it—he is quite able to keep his end of the stick up—nor do I wish to defend the Mangonui County Councillors, as they are a very bad lot. But there are a few of “ Locksley’s ” statements that I take exception to, and which are very misleading to the ratepayers. “ Locksley ” should have known better than to have laid himself open to ridicule. He says he “wouldn’t try to detract from it if it had not been for that little bit of legerdemain about the rates and Charitable Aid—my two pet hobbies.” Taking subsidies on rates first: “ Locksley ” says that on all rates paid after 31st March the County loses the subsidy. Mr. Nawton says the 30th June. Mr. Nawton is right, and “ Locksley ” should have been sure before he made his statement. I have no doubt “ Locksley ” will say he is right and I am wrong. Now, to settle that little point I will challenge “Locksley” to send £5 to the editor of the “.Age,” whici amount I am willing to cover, the winner to take the £lO. Details can be arranged later if accepted. If “ Locksley ” is afraid to back up what he says with £5, I will ask the ratepayers to credit me with a win. Therefore Mr. Nawton’s figures (£333 7/6) are correct and “Locksley” is wrong. Also Mr. Nawton is right with arrears of previous year (£387 5/2). “ Locksley ” "is evidently under the impression that the Council lose all subsidies after 31st March, whereas they do not lose the subsidy until after 30th June —a difference of only three months. I quite agree with “Locksley” when he says better not have any information than what’s not reliable. I trust “Locksley” will profit by following the good advice he is so free in giving to others.

Now for the Charitable Aid disbursing to the N.A.H. and C.A. Board £471 12/-. He says how Mr. Nawton reduces that to £l7O is a Chinese puzzle to him. It may be a puzzle to “ Locksley,” and I will try to enlighten him on that point. To make it clear to all, we will say that the N.A.H. and C.A. Board levies a rate on all the Counties under its control of onesixth of a penny. Of that rate Mangonui has to contribute say £l5O to the Board, and yet Mangonui may disburse in charitable aid £3OO. The N.A.H. and C.A. Board would have to refund to Mangonui Council £l5O. Therefore what Mr. Nawton says is correct, and his 3/2 per head of the population is not far out. “ Locksley” gqes on to say a lot of tommy-rot about babies, which is too absurd to require much of a reply, except that Mr. Nawton does not trade in babies, and I don’t think be knows much about tbem. I feel sure he is not the authority that “Locksley” is on the little dears, and the latter should not tell our young people that the Council is going to put a poll tax on babies—-it might frighten them from entering into the bonds of bliss. Again, he says that Mr. Nawton suggests that all the Mangonui people who had typhoid had to go on Charitable Aid. Mr. Nawton in his letter said nothing of the kind, and I consider it is an insult to many of the Mangonui people who bad the misfortune to get the typhoid and paid their way without costing the County a penny.

Then “ Locksley ” goes on to deal with Government grants, and shows about as much ability with grants as he does with rates and charitable aid. He says that the Council received from the Government £1595 10/- in the shape of grants, which is quite true, and that the Council only spent according to the balance-sheet £1256 12/6, which is also quite true. But he goes on to say that the unexpended balance of £338 19/5 apparently goes to reduce the overdraft. Quite wrong. It is beyond me to know how a man with “ Locksley’s ” supposed ability cannot see how it is, and knows so little about a balance-sheet. Surely he must know that the County’s financial year closes on 31st March every year, showing a statement of the receipts and expenditure up to that date. Now, to account for that £338 19/5, which he thinks goes to pay off the overdraft. As I said, the year closes on 31st March, and there is every year a balance of the Grant Money not paid in on the 31st March. The money not having been paid in, the Grants appear on the balance-sheet as not having been fully spent.—l have the honour to be, BUSTER BROWN. September 10, 1906.