MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15023, 18 July 1914, Page 5

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

-■—..,■...■-..■ A .... .i ...■■ .v PnOCFIEDINCuS CONCLUDED. (rP.ESS ASSOCIATION TKTiEQIIAAr.) WELLINGTON, July 17. Tho Municipal Conference concluded •to-day. Officers for thu ensuing two years were elected as follows : —Prrsidoni, Mr 3. P. JiUko {Mayor oi" Wellington); vicepresidents, the Mayors of Auckland, Cliristchurch, Dunedin, and Nelson; Executive CommitU.<o, tho Mayors of Petono, Lower Hult, Palmcrston North. Karori, Onslow, and Masterton, and Crs. JA. H. Hindmarsh, M.P. (Wellington), and representatives from i.be Town Boards of Johnsonvillo and Fpper Hutt; secretary, legal ; advisor and treasurer Mr T. F. Martin. In comniittco. tho Conference decided to increase tho salary ol' tho eecrotary and legal advisor (Mr T. l< , . Martin), and. on resuming, heartily tliank|.ed him for his excellent work. ! Among tho remits adoptod wore the following :— ■ . - ~ I>iuedin —That section 108 •of 'tita Municipal 'Corporations Act/ 190$,- ' bo amended.to onablo a Municipal- Co*anr cil to transfer to the General Account the surplus from any separate account, showing the moneys accruing from "any undertakings controlled by tho Gouncil. Wellington—That it is expedient that tho Government Valuation of Land Act should bo re-drafted and simplified, , and that it should'be provided that in every year tho rates should bo levied on tho old roll, t.a amended to March 31sfc, and that no rovision should, so far as rates aTe concerned, tako effect- until April Ist next ensiling. Marton—That all fences that,shall bound any.road upon which there shall bo a level railway crossing shall, for a distance of four chains on both eidesof tho line of rails at such crossings and on each eido of such road, be,'so constructed with picket or other opon fencing material not more than 3ft Gin in height, and that no line," closo-board-ed or <:loso-iron fence, shall bo'allowed or permitted to remain. Taumarunui —That legislation be given effect to whereby the.Crown or a Native Land BoaaJ shall havo to rofuse.the transfer, of sections (that are liablo to rating by any local authority), pending a certilicato from tho clerk of the respective local authority that all rates have been paid, that a partition of all Native townships be executed by the (Tovernment. and that a tribunal (whoso decision shall be final) be sot ap for this purpose. : - " Matters relating to electoral reform wore discussed, and a proposal approving of tho principle of proportional • representation rejected. DEPUTATION TO 'PRIME MINISTER. A deputation of delegates to tho Municipal Conference waited on tlie Prime Minister this and placed before him tho results of tho Conference's deliberations, and tho main points of the recoTnmendjitions adopts. Mr Massey. in tho course of his reply, said tho various matters submitted would rnceivo serious consideration, particularly from tho Minister most concerned/ tho Hon. F. H. l>. Bell. A superannuation scheme was prominent in tho recommendations, and that matter had already been considered •by the Government. A Bill had been prepared and. as tad bcon suggested, would tako tho form of an amendment to the National Provident Fund Act. He asked wero the members of tho Conference unanimous as to making superannuation compulsoryMr Luke: Almost so. Only a few of ilio smaller boroughs are at'raid of Llio nnanrial strain. "Wo will do oui best with the 8i11. ,, ?ontiiiued Mr Massey. "It will Ir> introduced within a week or two, but T ?aiii)ot guaranuw a compulsory clauiO. 10-day a Rill for licensing motor-cars ft-as submitted, tho fees to go to lo«iJ bodies for road upkeep. (Hear. hear). \s to other question*, our time is limited this session, and we have not 'done i as much as we would likci to have ; done, but they will ofirf-ainly recoive j attention the session following aft-orthe ', Blcctions h-ve been of." j Mr Massey promi.scd rpocia] t-onsid- j ?ra.?io»« to romarks by Mr MicLaels. an : Auckland representative. ojncernini; ' the fish difficulty in Auckland, which, j he said, "no had personal knowledge of. j : : !