POLITICAL.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 8 July 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

A BENEFICIAL MEASURE.

Political Patronage Curtailed.

(From Our Special Reporter.)

It ia understood that the Local Grants and Subsidies Bill which is expected t* make its appearance in the House in a f ew days will provide for the setting up of a non-political board consisting of three' members, who wifi ha selected because of their particular knowledge of liOCal Government affairs and civil engineering. An endeavour will be made to give each Island equal representation on the Board* The members of the board will have powers in some respects similar to those of the Public Service Commissioners and will owe direct responsibility to Parliament with the object of thus taking from Parliament a certain atmosphere of political patronage with regard to the bestowal of grants that has hitherto existed. It is understood that local districts will be graded and classified according to their stage and development.