FLOOD DAMAGE IN COUNTY

Southland Times, Issue 23336, 21 October 1937, Page 4

FLOOD DAMAGE IN COUNTY

MR SEMPLE REFUSES ASSISTANCE ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL POSITION An application by the Southland County Council for assistance in the repairing of flood damage in Southland has been rejected by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple). Advice of this was received at a meeting of the council yesterday and councillors protested against the attitude of the Government.

“I have received all of the circumstances with the object of not only giving your request further consideration, but of ascertaining as far as possible whether the county had been unjustly treated when compared with instances of flood damage sustained ir», and of Government assistance given to, other areas,” wrote Mr Semple. “A careful examination of the more prominent features attaching to the council’s finances has shown that while rates have been increased they ata still considerably below those levied and collected in 1929, 1930 and 1931. An analysis of the rates a £lOOO rateable capital value, the rates a head and the debt a head of population results in giving information indicating that the Southland County Council is much more favourably situated than others throughout the Dominion, particularly with respect to debt liability where the commitment a head is only one-sixth of the average for all counties. “The application is not the first instance where a subsidy has been refused,” he continued. “It is definitely not the Government’s policy to decline assistance where there is need for help, but it does not seem reasonable for national funds to be used to assist towards the cost of restoring storm and flood damage in areas where local resources can be marshalled without undue hardship and difficulty to provide funds for restoration and repair of any damage which might have occurred. DAMAGE TO BRIDGE “The major item of the damage in your county is Jobs Ford bridge, on the Parawa-Nokomai road, and the fact that last year’s estimates contained a grant of £lOOO, £ for £, to assist in renewing this structure had a considerable bearing on the decision given on the question of Government assistance. On this year’s estimates the possibility of extending more liberal help for the restoration of this crossing is receiving consideration, and I hope to be in a position later to offer your council a subsidy of £2 for £1 on the cost of rebuilding Jobs Ford bridge. “The position regarding a subsidy towards the cost of general flood damage has been reviewed, but I regret that I am unable to depart from my earlier decision." The chairman (Cr A. S. McNaught) protested at the attitude taken up. “The whole thing is wrong,” he said. “It is the usual thing for the Government to assist in flood damage repair work, not only here but all over New Zealand. Yet because our finances, according to the Government, are good they will not help us. The whole thing is ridiculous and unfair. Mr Semple is on the box seat and we can’t get anywhere. The Government has got its knife into us and we can only receive the letter with dissatisfaction.” Cr J. Dennis remarked that if Mr Semple had been in New Zealand when the application was first made the council might have received more consideration. “Mr Webb turned it down,” he said, “and Mr Semple has had to abide by it” Cr Norman said the Government was inconsistent in such matters. “If we had made a formal application in the ordinary way for a grant on a £ for £ basis we would have got it,” he said. “But because we try to help the settlers out and give them immediate relief we cannot get the necessary assistance.”