COUNTY COUNCIL GRIEVANCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9321, 16 June 1891, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL GRIEVANCES.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. A deputation of tho delegates attending the County Council Conference now being - held in Wellington waited on the Premier yesterday afternoon at Government BuildI ngs. Among those present were the Hon K. Seddon (Minister of Publio Works), the Hon Mr Mackenzie (Minister of Lands), Hon A. J. Cadman (Native Minister), and Messrs O’Connor, T. Mackenzie, 0. Mills, Valentine, Uarkneas, R. H. J. Reeves, Guinness, M. J. S. Mackenzie, M.H.E.’s, &o.

Mr Fergus utated that the object of the deputation was to place before the Premier the faot that under the present circumstances the County Connells on the West Coast were quite unable to carry on their affairs with the revenue at their disposal. The abolition of the gold duty had affected them rather severely, while the repeal of the Crown and Native Lauds Rating Act bad bad a still more serious effect. They wished'to know how they ooold carry on the duties imposed npon them without the aid of some adequate revenue, and they wished to know whether the Government would do anything to assist them in any way In restoring the funds to. a proper, safe and satisfactory condition. Mr Uninnesu having read the resolutions passed by tbs Conference on the subject, Mr Brennan said the abolition of the gold doty had bad a very serious effect upon their financial condition, and quoted the case of Inangabua, where the subsidies for the maintenance of main roads had fallen from

£2OOO to about £260. The same remark would apply to nearly ail the other counties. The Premier:! understand the embarrass: ment has arisen from the abolition of the gold duty J Mr Brennan: Some of it. The Premier: Were they in favour of it?

Mr Brennan ; Not at Inangahna. , 'The Premier: Are they in favour of putting it on again? Mr Brennan said he wonld like a substitute forit if any could be found. They had not considered any substitute, but were approaching the Government to see if they oonld propose something. The Premier said a substitute meant a vote from the colonial funds, which, of coarse, required very grave consideration. When the Government repealed the duty on gold they never contemplated a demand on tho exchequer for compensation. Then again the gold dot; was not repealed as far as the northern counties wore concerned, and if a substitute were given they wonld expect that something should be given to them. But after all he was not sore that the Government were prepared to give anything in the way of compensation. And they had better seek for some other source of revenue. He thought, ’also, that before they asked for assistance they should bring their departmental expenditure down to tho lowest possible point. Mr Brennan said there was a great diffi-

culty in keeping down expenses where new roads had to be opened up. Mr O'Conor said the difficulty would be obviated if the Government would take over the main roads.

The Premier said if that were done a very large number of similar claims would come in from all parts of the country. The Government could not entertain the Idea of maintaining main roads anywhere, and did not intend to extend then responsibilities in that direction. Mr Fergus said some main roads had been maintained for many years past, and now they rcouired a small modicum of justice for tho unsettled portion of the country. He did not think it was fair to call upon tbe miners to make and maintain roads for the Government. The mining industry was going down at present; they had aided in the post to open up the country, and deserved a certain quid pro quo. The Premier remarked that the Colony did not possess an inexhaustible treasury, The resolutions passed by the Conference, how ever, were of a very practical nature, and no doubt some of them would bo considered and perhaps adopted. He did not think the Government were likely to take over the main roads, but as to tbe question of aiding the revenue, bo would go into the matter very closely, although he did not thick any grant could bo made from tho public funds in aid of tbe main roads.

After some further discussion, tbe deputatioo withdrew,