CITY FATHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 252, 23 October 1924, Page 5

CITY FATHERS.

N.Z. MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

SESSION AT TOWN HALL. 1

OVER A HUNDRED DELEGATES.

The 1924 annual conference of members of municipal bodies in New Zealand was opened this morning in the Auckland City Council Chambers, there being an attendance of over one hundred representatives of the Dominion's municipalities, from Invercargill northwards, On account of Sir James GunßOn's illness the visiting delegates were welcomed by the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. G. W. Baildon. He stated that Sir James was keenly disappointed that he was unable to attend the conference, to which he had been looking forward. Mr. Baildon expressed the pleasure of Auckland citizens at having tbo opportunity of entertaining so large a gathering of delegates from other centres. He regretted tbat some southern municipal representatives had seen fit to belittle these conferences as mere pleasure trips. Having attended a number of them, he was aware that a great deal of useful work was accomplished, and since the conference had been made movable he had been personally convinced that it had helped to propagate new ideas of benefit to delegates visiting the various centres. He had got the benefit of new ideas from his visit last year to Christehurch, and he hoped that some of the delegates this year would have a similar experience in Auckland. Last year in Christehurch the delegates had'sat day and night in discussion, and that it was not empty labour was proved by the fact that several Auckland remits were passed on through the executive to Parliament, than in session, and became embodied in our present law He felt that too much importance could not be placed on these conferences, and he was proud of the privilege of walooming the delegates to Auckland, and hoped that when the serious business of the conference had been concluded the Auokland City Council would have the opportunity of entertaining the delegates. Mr. J. Flesher Presides, In the absence' of Mr. R. A. Wright, of Wellington, who was the president of the Municipal Association, Mr. H. L. Tapley, Mayor of Dunedin, acknowledged the welcome, and expressed regret that Sir James Gunson had not been able to be present and preside at the conference. He was sure the conference would be glad of an opportunity to sympathise with Sir James. He was also sure that tbe conference wonld desire to express its resentment at the remarks made by the Mayor and some of the councillors of the Wellington City Council, to the effect that tbe conference was merely a pleasure trip. In the absence of Mr. Wright, lie desired to nominate .Mr. Jas. Elesher, Mayor of Christehurch, as chairman of the conference.

Mr. Flesher was unanimously appointed chairman, and on his motion a resolution was passed sympathising with Sir James Gunson in his illness, and expressing the hope that he would soon be restored to his accustomed 1 health and vigour. Further, the conference passed a resolution congratulation Sir James Gunson on the honour of the knighthood conferred upon him. In seconding the latter motion Mr. W. H. Bennett, of Wellington, remarked that the reported remarks by Mr. K. A. Wright about the usefulness of the conference should not be seriously regarded, as the speaker had reason to believe they were spoken in haste, and had been regretted by Mr. Wright. President's Report. The president, Mr. R. A. Wright (Mayor of Wellington), in his report to delegates, first touched upon the conceding of free travelling to members of a council in the performance of their official duties as tbe result of an amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, which amendment followed the passing of resolutions at the conference held in Christehurch last year. Other resolutions of the conference were brought under the notice of tbe Government with a view to legislation, but it was understood that the Government did not propose this session to introduce any local government legislation except the Motor Vehicles Bill. Circulars had been sent by the Minister of Internal Affairs to the several borough councils and town hoards ask- i ing that their views should be sent to the Association, and these letters had been duly received and considered, and as a result suggested amendments to the hill had been forwarded to the Minister. A deputation from the Association had appeared before the select committee of Parliament to which the bill was referred.

The executive committee had authorised two test cases to be brought before the Supreme Court, one to decide whether education boards were liable for the payment of special rates struck for loans before the boards acquired the rated property. The Court held that the boards were liable for these rates iv the same way as the Crown was liable under section 112 of the I Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1913. The second test cast was to obtain a decision whether the Government was liable to pay the cost of removal of refuse from the post office and other Government buildings. A further test case to decide for what amount an ' "antecedent liability" loan may be raised whether money held for special purposes had been paid into the district fund account at the bank so as to reduce overdraft interest, but was placed in separate bank accounts-before March 31, 1022, is pending. Hours of Sitting. It was decided that the liours of sitting should be 10 a.m. to 12.45 pm 2.15 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Remits. The first real business of the conference began with a remit brought forward by Mr. J. Corkill, Mayor of Wairoa, which sought to have the Auctioneers Act 1908, amended, so that firms whose business premises are situated within a borough, although their stock saleyards may be situated in an adjoining county, should be compelled to take out their auctioneers' licenses with the borough and not with the county. The remit met with some opposition, and on bein" put to the conference was declared los? Rabbit Dogs.—A remit brought up by Mr. R. Galbraith, Mayor of Aahburton, which defined "a rabbit dog to mean a dog which is part of a rabbit pack of not leas than three dogs," was carried without discussion.

Dangerous Goods^ —"That the full amount of all fees collected by local authorities for dangerous goods licenses be retained by the local authorities," was brought forward by Mr. W. Lock, Mayor of Nelson, and was carried without discussion. ... j

Fire Board Contributions.—Following upon a remit by Mr." F: .1. Nathan, Palmerston North, and Mr. A.- J. Huneiman, Mayor of Danevirke, touching contributions to Fire Boards, a remit waa carried that the Government be asked to contribute in proportion to the value of the Government's buildings. Hospital and Charitable Institutions. — Four remits touching hospitals and charitable institutions were before the conference, one being carried and three lost. One, "That a hospital board be defined as local authority," was brought up by Mr. Galbraith (Ashburton) and carried. The remits lost dealt with interest on unpaid contributions, the abolition of levies by tlie Government upon local bodies for the maintenance of public hospitals, and a motion to give borough councils direct representation op hospital boards. Licensing Fees.—A Hamilton remit, setting out that a time had arrived when the license fees payable by hotels should be reviewed, had added to it at the suggestion of the chairman, "That all such fees should be paid to the municipalities," and was carried. Superannuation.—Two remits having for tlieir -subject the extending of the provisions of the Civil Superannuation Fund to local bodies, and seeking authority to any office to formulate and carry out a superannuation scheme for local bodies were lost.

Local Bodies' Loans:—A remit from Ashburton, "That the expenses of il successful loan proposal be paid out of loan money," was carried last year and again to-day, as waa aUo a remit passed iri 1021 and 1023, providing for a compulsory sinking fund for State guaranteed loans. Added to this was a provision that the above provisions be added to, and not substituted for any of the statutory provisions at present available to local authorities. Banks' Commission. —A remit protesting against the practice of the banks in charging a commission 'of 2/6 per cent on the total amount of interest payable under debenture coupons, whether paid through the bank or not, was introduced by Mr. F. Burwell (Invercargill) and carried. Local Elections. Four remits dealing with rolls, voting papers, and voting, similar to those passed at previous conferences were passed, as were also three other remits. One was from Hamilton, urging that an elector whose name bad been left off the roll be allowed to vote upon producing a certificate signed by the town clerk, and signing a declaration before the deputy returning officer. Another eamo from Patea, Ashburton, Greymouth and Thames, having for its object a universal method of voting; while another, introduced by Mr. J. Gamble (New Brighton) provided that all cities, boroughs, and town districts, should be empowered to have a polling booth for municipal elections and loan polls iv tbe city to enable business men to record their votes. These remits were carried. Two Masterton remits touching upon hospital patients and compulsory.voting lapsed for want of a seconder, and another from Masterton suggesting that in cases where boroughs were divided into wards, persons owning property in each ward should be entitled to vote in respect of loan proposals, was lost. Main Highways. Two remits, one from Dunedin, Foxtoh and Ashburton, and the other from Dannevirke, dealing with the maintenance and construction of main highways, both of which were carried at the.:1023 conference; were again passed, arid on behalf of Hamilton, Mr..Entrican presented a remit seeking that boroughs paying a proportion of the, cost of the charges connected with main highways should not be represented on the Board of Control or on the district councils. Deputation. It was decided to receive a deputation from the Auckland Sanitary Inspectors' Association at 11 a.m. to-morrow.,.