RETROSPECTIVE SUBSIDIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1930, Page 12

RETROSPECTIVE SUBSIDIES.

The reply of the Main Highways Board to the request of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association that road subsidies be retrospective ig an excellent piece of special pleading. That it will be accepted as a fair conclusion upon all the circumstances is very unlikely, or that the decision of the board will be accepted as the last word on the subject. As is well known, Taranaki local bodies were among the first in the Dominion to recognise the value of good roads. They obtained the consent of ratepayers to the raising of loans for this purpose, with the corollary that substantial rates foi’ reading purposes are still being collected. Other local bodies were content with patching and procrastination in road upkeep until the position became serious throughout the Dominion. It led to the formation of the Main Highways Board, with finance guaranteed by means of the petrol tax. The board subsidises local authorities for work on the highways, and this hag meant that the local bodies which muddied along until the board was set up get the same subsidy as those in Taranaki, but escape the heavy rates which obtain in this province for the roads made before the Main Highways Board was in existence. It. is true that some special consideration was given Taranaki upon the abolition of the toll gates, but the local authorities concerned maintain that thin does not do them full justice. They claim that the subsidies should be retrospective to those who modernised their roads before the board was set up. To this tlfe board steadfastly declines to agree, and in its latest communication gets forth its reasons at some length. It practically says Taranaki local authorities modernised their roads because they saw it would be cheapest in the long run, and therefore as they had the benefit of good roads earlier than other districts they are not entitled to retrospective subsidies. The reasoning would be sound had there been no Highways Board set up and bad dilatory local authorities in other parts to make up the cost of delay out of their own funds. On the contrary, they are escaping the payment of rates on loans for road making and are receiving just as much in the way of subsidy as Taranaki authorities. It seems obvious that expediency and not justice has. influenced the board s decision. If subsidies were retrospective for this province it is probable other local authorities would put in their claims. And why not? It might take time and trouble to make just settlements throughout the Dominion, but better that than that injustice prevail and a prenf >n b n given for incompetency or dilatoriness on the part of those authorities that neglected their roads until finance other than local rates vyas available. The Taranaki local bodies have a strong case, and it is to be honed thov will take the matter furfW. \ "

"LEARN TO SWIM” WEEK. The decision of the Taranaki swimming centre to organise a "Learn to Swim Week” in the coming summer will meet with general approval. Though much has been done in the schools in fostering liking for and proficiency in swimming, a well organised effort will fill up many gaps in the teaching that are now in evidence. The proposal to obtain the 6erviec& of an expert instructoi seeme thoroughly justified. There are many fine swimmers in Taranaki, and there are many eager pupils. It does not always follow that the most proficient swimmer is an able inGtruetor, though there is little doubt but that among the primary school teachers there will bo found sufficient to organise the work at the schools if they themselves have an opportunity of observing at first hand the methods of a skilled instructor. As to the value of swimming exercises there is little argument to-day. The desirability of provision for bathing facilities is now fully recognised by school authorities, and in many places quite exceptional efforts have been and arc being made to obtain them. Were it known that the swimming lessons would be under the supervision of the teaching staff any nervousness on the part of parents would be considerably relieved. At the same time lack of progress by any pupil would be observed and its reason discovered and remedied. The history of casualties through drowning in the Dominion is quite long enough to justify teaching, every bgy and girl to swim, for there is never a summer without fatalities due to the victims’ inability to swim. Apart from the question of safety the exercise is one of the most health-giving, provided, in the case of children, it is done under supervision and no overstrain is permitted. This supervision the teachers are willing to undertake, and there is little doubt but that their enthusiasm will receive the practical support of the public when it comes to providing the funds for the visit of an expert to the schools of the province.