IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15235, 24 February 1913, Page 8

IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY.

NEWMARKET'S LACK OF FUNDS. GOVERNMENT CANNOT. HELP. There is no alteration yet in. the position regarding the financial difficulty of tho Newmarket Borough Council. On Saturday Mr. A. M., Myers, M.P., received tho following telegram from the Acting-Minister for Finance (Hon. W. Fraeer), to whom Mr, Myers hud telegraphed urging that the money required (£3000), should be paid over by the Government at once, as it was urgently, required :"Your wire received. Regret I cannot authorise at present, as under Act passed last year the Advances B-ard is compelled to give preference to applications for money to construct roads and bridges in outlying districts, and I am unable at present to satisfy these demands. I will, however, look into matter on my return to Wellington next week."

The town clerk of Newmarket (Mr. L. Buisson) forwarded a letter to the ActingMinister for Finance, urging that the Government should, guarantee that the money would bo paid by the State-guaranteed Advances Department when funds were available, so that the Council could finish its street-improvement work by obtaining an overdraft from its bankers. A telegram on these lines was sent to tho Minister by Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P., who, on Saturday, received the following roply from Mr. Praser :— Cannot give such guarantee as you ask, but under circumstances will recommend Advances Board to grant application as soon as provisions of last year's Act can bo complied with, and money is available."

Mr. Dickson telegraphed again, stating that the council could make temporary arrangements lor the raising of the £3000, and asking when the Minister thought the Advances Department would have the money available. So far, however, he has not received a reply.