82. Colonel THORNEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government are considering the question of making Grants to local authorities in consequence of the burdens imposed in the local rates in consequence of war bonuses and increases of wages due to the high price of commodities that have been granted from time to time by the local authorities in accordance with the awards given by the Committee on Production; how many local authorities have sent along a resolution on the matter; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)While it is true that extra burdens upon the ratepayers may in some cases have resulted from the grant of war bonuses and increases of wages due to the high price of commodities, the information at my disposal affords no ground for the conclusion that the general burden upon the ratepayers has been increased so as to call for special subsidies on this account from the National Exchequer.