LOCAL BODIES' GRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15700, 29 August 1914, Page 9

LOCAL BODIES' GRANTS.

NEW SCHEME DRAFTED.

GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS.

WORKS TC) BE SYSTEM ATISED

APPOINTMENT OF BOARDS.

[BT TEI.F.GBA.PII—SPECIAL fOBBESPOXDEXT.]

Wellixgtos", Friday. Tim principal proposal in the Financial Statement was a new system of distributing grams and subsidies to local authorities. A Bill embodying the scheme was introduced in the House r/f Representatives this evening. It provides also for the maintenance of main arterial roads and for the expenditure of fees paid in respect of motor vehicles upon roads most utilised for motor traffic.

Tho interpretation clause of the Bill is important. "Construction" and "construction work" mean the construction of a new work and in exceptional cases approved by the board of works. The terms includo works in lieu of works which have becomo insufficient or uselee3 or destroyed by fire, tempest, flood or earthquake, and tho metalling of a road not previously metalled or not previously sufficiently metalled, and tho formation of a road not previously properly formed or laid out. The term " local authority" is applied in tho Bill only to county councils, road boards, and town boards "Local work" includes every work which a local authority is authorised to undertako except railways, tramways, and buildings other than bridges. Board to Make Grants. Tho distribution of grants from the Public Works Fund is to be made by a board of works. This board ia to consist of three persons appointed by the Governor for a term of livo years. Any member of the board may bo suspended by ths Governor for misbehaviour or incompetence, and restored to office only bv resolution of the House of Representatives, Tho board is to have all tho powora c/f a commission appointed under tho Commissions of Inquiry Act. Tho salaries of tho chairman and tho other two members of tho board are not defined by tho Bill.

Applications for grants are to be classified by tho board with regard to the principle that tho primary purposo of grants is the construction of roads and bridges, and that only in cases of exceptional urgency and importance may grants bo made for other works. Tho following classification is proposed Class I.: Local works, which the board deems to be urgently required in tho interest of the public generally, as well as of local benefit. Class II.: Local works in districts where the settlement of Crown lands has been effected for a period exceeding threo years, and where tho settlers are not provided with sufficient roads. Class 111. : Local works in districts, the local authorities of which, aro subject to disadvantage by reason of sparse settlement, the existence of large areas of unoccupied Crown land or of native land, and difficulty in procuring suitable material for metalling roads. Ciass IV.: All other local works.

Revision by Parliament. The amount availablo from the Public Works Fund for expenditure upon local works iii each year is to bo stated by the Minister for Finance in tho Financial Statement. A report is then to be prepared by tho Board of Works, allocating this mini in grants for local works, giving preference to the various applications according to the special classification. The recommendations of tho board are to bo embodied in tho Public Works Estimates, which are to consist of two parts, the first part being estimates of the expenditure proposed, exclusive of grants for local woiks, and the second part being estimates for grants for local works in accordance with tho allocations recommonded by the board.

Increaso in Annual Subsidies. The second part of tho Bill deals with subsidies from tho Consolidated I'und to county councils, road boards, and town board's which at present do not receive subsidies according to a permanent Act, but, according to the annual Appropriation Act. The Bill provides a statutory appropriation in proportion to the general rates collected by tho local authority, the sub sidy for a county council being 10s in the £ '011 a sum not exceeding £1000, and 5s ir, the £ for a sum exceeding £1000, with a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £2500. Road districts arc to receive a subsidy of 10s in the £ on rates amounting up' to £500, and 5s in the £ on larger sums, with a minimum of £250 and a maximum of £500. Town districts are to receive 5s in the £ on rates up to £750, and 2s 6d in tho £ on larger sums, with a minimum of £187 10s and a maximum of £450.

A further sum equal to one-fourth of tho aggregate amount required to pay these subsidies is to bo paid to the Board of Works, to be apportioned among local bodies, subject to tho disadvantages specified in cla."s three, to be expended in tho maintenance and repair of such roads and bridges as the board directs, and upon construction works specially authorised by the board.