GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3381, 23 November 1911, Page 9

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

GRANTS TO THE COOK COUNTY.

MINISTER DESIRES WORKS TO BE PUT IN HAND.

A number of communications from the Public Works- Department relative to grants were read at a meeting of the Cook County Council yesterday. Tire Under-Secretary for Public Works wrote explaining where an amount offered- is on account of a larger in all such cases the larger sum mentioned is available for expenditure.

The letter was received. The assistant Under-Secretary for Public Works wrote regarding the authority for £IBB6 £ for £ issued 1 to the Council on ■ March 15th last for metalling in. the Te Arai Settlement. The Minister of Public Works, he saia, wished to draw attention, to the fact that practically no expenditure had- yet come to charge against this authority, and it was presumed therefore that little or nothing had yet been done m the way of carrying out this work. He hoped it would be completed during the next few months. The Engineer said that they had spent £124 given by the Government, and a great deal more had been expended by the Council. The Council would have to find nearly £2OOO if they wished to get the amount offered. The Council had to complete the various works before they could get the subsidy. Cr. Jex-Blake was given authority to obtain signatures for a petition to raise a loan. Regarding the Taruheru river bridge the assistant Under-Secretary for Public Works wrote stating that in addition to the £2OO offered on October last a further. sum of £IOO £ for £ was provided on the supplementary estimates. and this would be offered the Council for expenditure in a few' days. —Tlie letter was received. The U.nder-Socvetary for Public Works informed the Council that the Minister desired to have all such works where offers of moneys had been made by the Government put in liand as early as possible. Unless an, intimation of the willingness of the Council to undertake the work was received within two months from the date of offer such offer would be regarded as cancelled, and the work entrusted to the Department’s engineer to carry out. The letter was received.

The engineer drew attention to the fact that the Council was blamed for not getting the grants expended, hut the fault did not lay with his office. The remedy was to give the District Engineer extended powers in the matter of approval or otherwise of suggested works, say up to £250. The approval could then be got almost immediately, and the work commenced. The Council decided to interview Sir James Carroll on the matter of grants.