COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14727, 4 August 1921, Page 4

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

A DISCUSSION.

At a meeting of the Thames County Council yesterday, the chairman, referring to the financial stringency, said that none of the members could throw bricks at one another in each of the'ridings, for all were in the same position. "There is only the ensuing year's rates to come in. which will leave you with about £4OOO for 12 months. Your hospital and charitable rates have , to come out of that. \ Cr. F aithf ul: It would not keep half a man. We will have' to' sack all our hands. . ;•''

The chairman: You will be righb up against our • statutory limit by March 31, and you have to pro- , vide against that. We have several loans that have been authorised. .1 have ! been trying- -to get the r £8000'"' sanction for the general machinery loan. You are up against the subsidy. '■• You must get the-Govern-ment subsidy. As soon as we l can arrange with the Government and go on' with the road scheme you will be out of your worries. It is the Government you are up against. Cr. Blackett: Could you not advocate the Thame s-Coromandel road Avhen you meet Mr. Cpates l -., Cr. McCormick: I think something should be done to carry us over for a few months, and until such times as* we get the summer and the sun, which are the best roadmakers. , ; •

Cr. Cox thought the suggestion of waiting upon Mr. Coates was a good one. There was the question of » toll gate on the coast road, which might be adopted.

It was decided that the chairman m and Crs. Cox and Blackett should wait upon the Minister of Public Works with reference to loan matt j.* \ ters, and subsidies. : : '