LOCAL BODIES' LOANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 12

LOCAL BODIES' LOANS.

THE PROPOSED BOARD. OPINION IN THE WAIKATO. [BY TELEGRAPH. ■ —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Thursday. The Prime Minister recently stated that a board would be appointed to which all applications for loans by local bodies must be referred to determine whether the proposed loans are in the best interests of the requisitioning locality or of the country. The Christchurch City Council opposes the formation of such a board, and in a letter received at the meeting of the Rural Counties' Association at Hamilton to-day, states that as the local requirements are best known by the local bodies the final pronouncement should be made by the persons responsible for the charges. The association reserved its decision on the matter until further information was available as to the proposed board. It was generally considered that some such board was needed to check local bodies. Cases were quoted of harbour board and hospital board activities where money had been spent unnecessarily. One member said he thought it significant that the council of one of the largest cities in the Dominion should be apprehensive of the formation of a. board, and he argued that in the event of a board coming about more money might be available for county requirements and less for city needs. Other members were of opinion that 100 much "red tape" would be involved in the work of the board. An amendment that support be given to the Christchurch City Council's protest was lost, and it was resolved that nothing be'done pending further information.