ADDRESS BY THE HON. H. D. BELL.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13808, 23 August 1913, Page 7

ADDRESS BY THE HON. H. D. BELL.

Wellington, Aug 22. The Counties Conference in the afternoon considered the Counties [Amendment Bill, and, generally speaking, decided in favour of it. Addressing the conference just before it rose, the Hon. H. D. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, said it was a serious matter to propose a large alteration in the matter of management of local affairs by the people themselves. Regarding finance, there were two funds, the Consolidated and Public Works Funds, both limited in amount, and on both there were enormous claims. The Government could only borrow so much a year, and of this a proportion must go. to public works, advances to settlers and workers, building, of schools, etc. The amount available, for grants was limited by the amount tho Government could borrow, and by tho balance remaining after satisfying the Public Works Fund's demand. In the resolution regarding subsidies being limited only by the amount tho counties rated themselves at and tho valuo of tho land, there did not appear to be any estimate, of what change would result to the revenue. That estimate must be made before any answer could be given as to whether tho Government could give a subsidy on the hisis the conference proposed. If they increased tho rates they would increase the quantum of the subsidy. Regarding classification, he had the advantage of knowing the Australian system. Still, the proposals of tho conference, added to the effect of the method in New South Wales, should weigh with the Government m inducing it"to' submit a basis on which aid should be given to districts which required something more than an annual subsidy. However, lie could not speak further on this, as it was a matter of policy, not of detail. The Government had strong .views regarding' tho reduction of the number of local bodies, and intended submitting a pro- j cess in detail for local government and administration throughout the Dominion. He would endeavour to carry out the suggestions of the conference re drainage in the Counties Bill. He did not agree that roads should be vested in the councils'in fee simple, nor that they should be closed when a more eonvenionb road was made. The Government would be largely guided m many matters by the advice of the conference.