NEW ZEALAND COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 162, 9 July 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.- ■ — 1 (By -TelesraDh. —Press Association.) "WELLINGTON, this day. The annual New' Zealand Counties Conference opened here to-day, delegates being present from all .parts of ■the colony, Mr. A. Jull presiding.

In his address r-the President said that, the present Counties Act left much room for improvement, a fact which was evidenced by the feeling of dissatisfaction manifested in various parts of the country, by the subdivision of existing counties.' To his mind one contribufing cause'was the- present method of the distribution of the Government subsidy which- gave" twice the-'amount of subsidy in the- -£. to counties which .colleetr ed up- to £-1000 in" 'rates," as against those counties -which "collected- '"over £2000, and in the case of counties consisting partly of road boards and partly outlying districts, a still greater reduction, irrespective of. ■Whatever rates were collected. For many .years the Asso- ! eiation had endeavoured to secure 'more' equitable apportionment of" the subsidy and a graduated system based upon the amount of rates struck had been recommended to Government. "After Teviewing various Acts affecting counties, the chairman stated that it was hoped that measures would be passed which would reflect upon the Government and be a monument to the efforts of the New Zealand Counties Association.