FINANCIAL AID FOR CATCHMENT BOARDS FOR URGENT WORKS

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 January 1948, Page 4

FINANCIAL AID FOR CATCHMENT BOARDS FOR URGENT WORKS

Advice that grants would be made for certain works pending the passage of legislation authorising catchment boards to strike a works rate was received from the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council at yesterday’s meeting of the Rangitikei Catchment Board.

"As you are aware legislation to provide a uniform works rate of an amount fixed so that the total of the administrative rate plus the works rate would not exceed Id in the i on the rateable value ot the district was introduced this year, but the Government was unable to proceed with the legislation containing this provision, stated the circular. “Pending the passing of such legislation the council has been authorised by Cabinet to make grants to catchment boards for certain purposes." These works include soil conservation, afforestation, destruction of wild animals likely to cause or accelerate soil erosion, flood forecasting, Are fighting and prevention, publicity and educational work, the purchase of plant, equipment and tools under certain conditions and river control works.

The circular stated that no proceeds of a works rate could be expended under this section without the expenditure being submitted to the council for approval. "There is no guarantee that all the money required by you will be made available, but every endeavour will be made to see that urgent works are met. In general, however, funds will not be available until next year," stated the circular. The chairman (Mr. K. A. Williams) said that proposals provided for the council to advance money against rates for certain work. Mr. R. F. Scott: We have no guarantee that this legislation will be passed. It has already been turned down twice. The New Zealand Counties’ Association was against the proposal. Mr. W. G. Sampson: The position is that they do not understand the proposal. The board’s engineer said that the chairman of the New Zealand Counties’ Association was the strongest opponent of the scheme. The chairman said it was not clear if the money was to be a loan or a grant. "It would appear that the proposals are to assist those boards which need help,” said Mr. Scott. "It seems that it is to help boards which havevearried out works and now find themselves in difficulties.

On the suggestion of Mr. W. G. Sampson, it was decided to have the matter discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the executive of the Catchment Boards’ Association, which will meet before the next meeting of the board.