ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 137, 22 March 1935, Page 3

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. DECISIONS OF INTEREST. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. The annual conference of tlie New Zealand Municipal Association was continued this afternoon.

A telegram was sent by the president (Mr D. G. Sullivan, ALP.), at the unanimous request of the conference, protesting to the Government against the non-payment of rates by the Government Departments concerned with mortgage lands of which the departments had taken possession. The conference declared that local bodies were the victims of a grave injustice of which they should he relieved. Tho telegram was sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Leader of the Opposition. It was decided that representations be made to tlie Government asking for stricted control of Alsatian dogs or for legislation forbidding their being kept in the Dominion.

The principle of a national schema of health insurance was approved by the conference. Details of the scheme were not discussed, because of representations that the Hospital Boards’ Association had the scheme under consideration and wag seeking support for it. A suggest (on that municipal and county elections should be held on the same day and that day should be. the second Wednesday in May triennially was approved. The conference refused to adopt a suggestion that the Government should make a rebate to all ratepayers as has been done to county ratepayers on two occasions. A remit was passed, however, urging the Government when considering any future relief to county ratepayers to take into considei ation tlie position of ratepayers in cities and boroughs and town districts. Remits urging the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into all local body administration were carried after a brief discussion. It was argued that municipalities as well as rural local bodies should be within the sphere of the inquiry. A scheme for the provision of earthquake insurance by a national scheme such as was submitted in Mr W. E. Barnard’s Bill of last year was approved. Several delegates spoke in support of a remit declaring that the conference viewed with alarm the number of advertising hoardings throughout the country side, and suggesting that all local bodies frame hy-lalvs restricting the erection of them. It was unanimously decided that the Government be requested to make it compulsory for all push bicycles to have the rear mudguard painted with aluminium or other luminous paint.

The following remit was carried: “That the Government be requested to apply the tuberculin test periodically to all cows producing milk for city and town consumption.”