NO SUBSIDY

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3190, 14 June 1932, Page 5

NO SUBSIDY

ON m PER CENT REBATE. PROTEST BY COUNTY COUNCIL. At the Waitomo County Council meeting last Friday a letter was received from the Minister of Public Works, Hon. J. G. Coates, stating that the County's Clerk's point was quite correct, that the 121 per cent, subsidy on rates would carry no subsidy. The contention of the Government was that as the' County Councils have not collected the rates represented by the 121 per cent, rebate they will not carry the usual county subsidy. It was further contended that the 10 per cent, cuts which have been made in various types of expenditure did not apply to County subsidies; also that Counties are receiving a reduction of 10 per cent, in their loan. interest charges. Cr Lee said that the Government I was putting the money in one pocket ; and taking it out of the other. The Council would in the ordinary course of events have collected a large proportion of the rates represented by this 12* per cent, rebate and then have received the subsidy. It seemed at first that the ratepayers would be gaining a big concession by the rebate, but there appeared to be no advantage at all. In answer to a question by Cr Georgetti, the Clerk stated that the loss of subsidy would be about £6OO. The general rates collected last year, including subsidies., were between £SOO and £6OO more than the previous year. Cr Georgetti said it appeared that the Council was no better off than before. The whole thing was wrong and the Council was entitled to a subsidy on the 121 per cent rebate. It was a case of increasing the rates by £6OO, or carrying the rates to that amount—"and the rates cannot be increased," said the speaker. It was resolved to refer the matter of these subsidies to the Coun-

ties' Association Executive.