SUBSIDIES TO COUNTIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1919, Page 5

SUBSIDIES TO COUNTIES.

STRAIGHT TAIK BY THE MINISTER. Christchureh, Last Night. A deputation waited on the Hon. G. W. Kusiel! ' <day and asked that clause 1 of the Pelwyn County Subdivision Act should amended to enable the counties into which tho original county was divided Ui receive more by way of Government subsidy for public works. The Minister said the question would be brought up for consideration by the Government, but he could not promise the 'Jovtrnment would agree to the proposal. The whole system of subsidies to l.ical bodies was on a wrong basis. Some diKiriets received no subsidy whatever, and others which received small subsidies should have large ones. The props* tystem was to base the subsidies on tha needs of the districts, not on the amount of Tate? they collected. He was convinced that if rural government was to be t'ai;ed on a proper footing strong countv councils, with enlarged powers, and absolutely assured finances, were necessary. He would not say at present how the assured finances should be provided, but he might be in a position to do so son's day. The Government should hand over to local bodies many things that Ihey could do far better than the Government can do. Mr. Stablest "You would have a kind of provincial council." The Minister said he would not make the bodlfs bo large as to be unwieldy, One of the b< st administered counties in New Zeahui was tlie Southland county, and another <-ery good county was Hawke's Bay County. The question of subsidies would be held over until the whole question of local government with the powers of local bodies was considered, first by the people and later by Parliament, The Government was not in favor of counties beiiv; divided in order to obtain a higher subsidy. He believed be was expressing the op'Alon of the Minister of Finance Canterbury wan one of the richest, bestroaded, aud best-railwayed parts of New Zealand, and there were other districts that needed subsidy much more urgently than Canterbury did, • ■ ■ ■ " •' j