CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 10 February 1927, Page 10

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. trsesa »ssocuno» tbleosam.) PALMERSTON N., February 9. The nineteenth annual conference of tho Municipal Association opened Hub morning, Mr Nathan, Mayor of Palmcrston North and president of tho Association, presiding. A hundred delegates attended. Tho remits carried included the following:— Regarding the Power Boards Act, a remit was carried urging that Section 85 be amended so that electric power boards before supplying power direct to consumers within the nrea of supply of any licensee must first obtain tho consent of the licensee whether tho area of supply is in tho inner or outer area of tho power board district. It was explained that power boards supplying consumers iu b oro,, gb.iJ wcro infringing the latter'a licenses. A remit' was carried that the Fire Brigades Act bo amended so that of tho residue of the amount estimated for annual expenditure, after necessary deductions, one quarter bo uuid by the contributing local authority and three quarters by insurance companies, also that protection under Section 52, damage" by brigade to bo deemed dumngo by fire within the .meaning of tho lire policy, bo extended to cover all cases where a brigade attends fires outside the boundaries of a fire district. ' A remit also was carried urging, compulsion on the part of local'bodies to establish superannuation funds for employees.

Other Remits. The following remits were also carried: — That provision bo made for the payment of loan poll expenses out of loan. That the Local Bodies Loans Act bo amended to enable such bodies to invest unexpended balances of loans and loan moneys not immediately required on deposit in any banking institution or institution in which trustees invest trust moneys.

That tlic Local Bodies Loans Act bo amended by increasing the .rate of in. terest in respect of conversion debentures from tiro to six per cent. That provision lie made for the Main Highways Board to declare main highways portions of roads running through boroughs which are continuations of declared main highways. That the Government bo asked to terminate the long delay in issuing motor regulations aad that the some be issued to local authorities forthwith.

That local bodies be empowered to frame a by-law prescribing a special license fee in respect of motor vehicles domiciled outside the borough which ply for hire within the borough on special occasions. Discussion ensued on the subject of disqualification of members of local bodies through payments made or incurred to them by bodies of which they are members. A Feilding remit asked that legislative sanction be sought for raising the amounts of £5 to £lO respectively in the Act to £25 and £SO respectively. The remit was carried by a three to two majority.

A further remit that the Government be approached relative to the modification of tho disqualifications clause relating to obligations already performed was carried.

A remit submitted with the object of enabling boroughs to duplicate or extend sewers and water systems without taking a poll for a loan was icarried. The suggested procedure was that a proposal should be first submitted to the council, and, if approved, then placed before the Local Bodies' Board, complete with estimates, and plans. If the Board approves the proposal should be again Submitted to the council for confirmation, after which tho council concerned should be authorised to proceed to raise the necessary money. # It was decided to move in tho direction of urging tho Government to establish a universal half-holiday, and to have legislation provided whereby the Crown must comply, with the provisions of local body by-laws.