SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8017, 24 September 1906, Page 3

SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES

MR GREENSLADE'S VIEWS

Speaking in the cmrseoftbe debat" ii the Huu-o -.ii the Local Authorities Sub sidles Hill Mr Gjjen.'ddde, M.H.K said: desire to he -rtily congratulate the Hon thi Premier upon ihe introduction ■>! this Hill because 1 very iiv.utily approve ot tn< principal contained therein. 1 believe ii the eraduat' d subsidy, and I say that th( higher the rate paid tiie higher the subsidy Khuuid )><; but at the same time I think that iu Counties situated as those within uiy electorate the subsidies should be more iu proportion to the necessities of those districts. As the uiewl>er tor Wellington Central (Mr Pisher) Ims read an extract from the communication received from the Wellington City Council, I should also like to place on record the opinion of the I Waipa County Council with regard to this measure. In so doiu,; I should like at once I to say that I think they have somewhat misunderstood subsection (c) of clause 4of the Bill; but at the same titue [ would like to have it placed on record in order to indicate what is expected in Counties containing backblock ; districts. The couiiuunica--1 have received from tham ieads as follows : " Te Awamutu, 13th September, 1906." "Dear Sir, —With reference to the copy of the Local Authorities Subsidies Bill which you were good enough to forward, the Council heaitily approves of tne principle here adopted—namely, that of paying the highest subsidy on the highest rate. At the same time I am uirected to point out that the wording of the most important clause—subsection (c) of section •I—is ambiguous, and might be read in two ways. Provided the various paragraphs are to be taken in a cumulative sense—th*t is, where six farthings and upwards is collected the subsidy would be .£1 7s 6a in the pound, theu the Council would approve of the section. The effect of calculating the amount of subsidy on the gross rates collected by all the local bodies seems to be open to objection. For instance, supposa that in taking the average as per subsection (b) of section 4 the amount came out at a fraction between fourths of a penny, then probably the lower value would be taken, which would meau considerable loss to local bodies. The Council is of opinion that each local body's fituncos should be dealt with independently; also that the gros6 amount proposed to be set aside for the colony should be increased to at least £150,000; in which case the present objectionable and unfair system of " grants " could be done away with. Will you be good enough to endeavour to have the Bill amended in the manner indicated.— Yours, etc., " Charles Bowden," "Clerk, Waipa County Council." I admit with the member for Hutt, that the Waipa County Council have somewhat misconstrued the effect of this subsection. The subsidy is not as they have calculated it, because I take it that it would work out as follows : Rate of {J. produces say, MOO at 3s in the pound. Rate of jd. produces say, first, £2OO at 3s, in the pound; second, £2OO at 3s 6d, in the pjund. Bate of Jd. produces say, £6OO -First £2OO at 3s in the pound: second £2OO at 3s 6d in the pound; third, £2OO at 4s 6d ia the pound. Rate of Id, produces say, XBOO-First, £2OO at3s iu the pound; second, £2OO at 3s 6.1 in the pound ; third, £2OO at 4.3 6d in the pound; fourth, £2OO at 5s in the pound. Rate of lid. produces say, £1,200—-First, £2OO at 3s in the pound ; second, £2OO at 3s 6d in the pound; third, £2OO at 4s 6d in the pcucd; fourth, £2OO at 5s in the pound; fifth, £2OO at 5s 6d in the pound; sixth, £2OO at 63 in the pound. That is how I work it out, and as the member for Christchurch South (Mr El!) and the member for Hut', (Mr Wilford), agree with me I think my calculation is correct. But some misconception evidently exists amongst County Councils regarding this subsection, though, personally, I do not see why it should be so. I wish to compliment the Premier upon having introduced the Bill. I thoroughly approve of the principle of it, and when it is in committee I hope the honourable gentleman will see his way to provide that the principle might be further enlarged in such a direction that where we find local bodies, such as those in my district, heavily rating themselves, and with important works devolving upon them in roading tha backblocks and maintainiag difficult main roads we should pay greater attention to them than to those in the cities. Where local bodies are rated only |d in the pound, they do not deserve a Government subsidy at all, and I hope that the Premier will see that local bodies who heavily rate themselves are deserving of much greater consideration than is at pr sent provided, and that he will discriminate as far as possible between their case and others. We should, I think, proceed on the principle of helping tho3e who help themselves.