15

I.—lla.

J. W. POYNTON.

6. Is the amount that the State has to pay under the old system of advances to local bodies more than the amount the local body pays to the State ?—Yes, in every case more. 7. Could you have a return furnished for the next meeting showing the loans under the different periods of years, the different rates of interest, and the loss or profit, as the case may be, that the State makes upon those loans ?—Yes. 8. In reference to the Timaru municipal' loan, what amount of that loan was for drainage, sanitation, or other water-supply purposes? —The return laid on the table of the House shows the amounts. The particulars are set out on page 16. The amounts finally approved were £6,000 to construct streets, £4,270 for drainage and sewerage works, £36,000 for drainage and sewerage works, and £10,000 to construct streets. 9. That is not the full loan they got?— The first loan they applied for was £128,700, and of that £68,000 for purposes not approved was struck out. Then the other loans I have mentioned were finally approved. 10. What is the total amount of the loan they got altogether?—£ll6,ooo, I think. 11. Then, in addition to what you have given on page 15 of the return, Timaru got a loan of £60,700?-—Yes. 12. Of the total loan advanced to Timaru, there are two items for the construction of streets —namely, £6,000 and £10,000 —and the rest was for water-supply and sewerage?— Yes. 13. What was the amount of the loan advanced by the Board to the Mount Eden Council? —£31,700. 14. And the purpose for which the loan was granted was what? —Waterworks extension and general roadworks. 15. How much for each?—l have not got the file here. 16. What was the amount of the loan advanced to the New Plymouth Borough?—£ll,22s. 17. And what was it for? —To improve streets and extend sewers. 18. What was the amount of the advance to the Taumarunui Borough Council?—£2l,B4s. 19. And what was that loan for? —Water-supply, drainage, road formation and metalling. 20. What was the amount of the advance to the Borough of Tauranga?—£l2,ooo. 21. For what purpose? —To construct and make waterworks, reservoirs, and water-races. 22. What was the amount advanced to the Borough of Te Aroha?—There were three loans totalling £5,600 for sanitary drainage-works, &c. 23. What was the total amount advanced to the Borough of Onehunga?—Two loans—one of £42,500 and another of £3,450, totalling £45,950. 24. What was the purpose for which those loans were required ?—The big loan was for drainage purposes, and the smaller one to "extend the waterworks. 25. What was the amount advanced to Blenheim? —There were several loans —four altogether —£750, £1,000, £1,500, £65,000, and £1,900. 26. Of that amount you gave £65,000? —More than that. The largest amount was for water-supply and drainage. 27. What was the amount advanced to the Arch Hill Road Board? —£3,500, to extend the district sewerage system. 28. What was the amount advanced to the Avondale Road Board? —£15,500. 29. For what purpose? —To grade, widen, and metal certain roads in the district. 30. What was the amount advanced to East Tamaki? —£3,000, to improve and metal the main roads in the district. 31. What was the amount advanced to the Devonport Borough?—£l2,soo, to construct reservoirs, erect morgue, and provide for drainage at Stanley Bay. 32. Why was the amount advanced there for the morgue? —I could not say without looking at the file. Ido not know whether the morgue was struck out, but I have an idea it was. The ratepayers struck out one item. 33. What was the amount advanced to the Borough of Eltham?—£lo,ooo and £3,500. The £10,000 was to construct coal-gas works, and the £3,500 for general street improvements. 34. And the amount advanced to the Borough of Queenstown? —£1,250, to construct acetvlenegas works. 35. Can you give the Committee the population of the Borough of Timaru and of the Town District of Pukekohe? —The population of Timaru is 11,280, and the population of the Town District of Pukekohe is 629. 36. As to the amount of the loan advanced to the Timaru Borough, how much per head does that w r ork out according to the population?— About £10 per head, roughly. 37. And how much does the loan work out at per head in regard to Pukekohe?—About £18, roughly. 38. What is the percentage of cost per £100 of capital employed by the State-guaranteed Advances Department?—On the return given it shows 9^-d. 39. There is a telegram from Mr. Greenslade of the 14th February, 1910, which I do not think has been put on record? —Yes. The telegram related to the Frankton Town Board's application, and reads as follows : " Be Frankton Town Board application for £3,000 loan : Board is anxious to know when money will be available as it is urgently required. Kindly telegraph me position. —Greenslade." The reply was, " Frankton Town Board's preparations apparently not completed for various loans. Will send application forms and instructions as soon as printed. Will be considerable time before moneys can be paid over. —Poynton, Superintendent." 40. Is this statement published in the Dominion of the 30th September correct: "Of the £2,152,000, the sum of £1,011,790 had gone to boroughs, and £658,000 to counties"? [Question ruled out of order by Chairman.] 41. Hon. Mr. Allen.] Mr. Poynton, you are the Superintendent for the State-guaranteed Advances Board? —Yes.