ASHBURTON COUNTY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 300, 18 December 1931, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY.

Government Subsidy on Rates Received. (Special to the “ Star.” ) ASHBURTON, December 18. The monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held to-day instead of in January, the chairman, Mr H. C. B. Withell, presiding. The chairman’s statement was as folThe council has received from the Government the amount of £3016 2s, being a 12J per cent subsidy on rates, based on the average rates collected by the council for the three years ended March 31, 1930. Thte council is required to give a rebate on the current year’s -rates which are paid on or before March 31, 1931. The council has not yet been successful in its efforts to obtain a subsidy on water charges, but the matter is being pursued. It will be necessary for the council to decide the amount of the rebate to be allowed to authorise refunds on amounts already paid, and also if rebates are to be made as the rates are paid. Recently the council askted that restrictions should be removed as much as possible to enable farmers who apply for men under 4A Scheme to have the applications approved at once by the local certifying officer instead of first sending them on to Wellington, thus saving time. In reply, the Commissioner of the Unemployment Board stated that everything possible was being done to expedite matters. However, he was advising the Local Committee that in certain special cases engagement to commence immediately would be permitted subject to satisfactory notification of allocation being received later. With regard to the council’s suggestion that the subsidy payable under the 4B Scheme should be increased to one-half, lie stated that with the limited funds available it was not possible to favourably consider the proposal at the present moment.