COUNTIES' CONFERENCE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1913, Page 6

COUNTIES' CONFERENCE.

[REMITS PROM OLUTHA COUNCIL.

The Clutha Comity Council held a special meeting at 2.45 on Friday afternoon for the purpose of considering resolutions proposed to be forwarded to the forthcoming counties' conference in Wellington. SUBSIDISING RATES. Councillor Smith moved: "That the system of subsidising rates be amended that all the general rates collected by the council be subsidised, and that the [subsidy be increased to 10s in the £ in ridings requiring to collect more than Id. rate."

Councillor Smith, in moving the motion, said he thought it was unfair that the poorest ridings got the least subsidy; it was such ridings which I should get the greatest help.

Councillor Nicol seconded the motion. He considered the subsidy should be on the full value of the rates. j The motion was carried. TAX ON MOTORS.

Councillor Begg moved: "That the ..Government be urged to impose a tax of 5s per horse-power on all motor cars, motor cycles and motor vehicles, with the following deductions according to the number of years in which the motor has been in use: 20 per cent, if the motor has been in use for two years; 40 per ce&t. if in use for three years; 60 per cent, if in use for four years or over. This tax to be collected by the Government and refunded to local bodies for the maintenance of main roads.''

Councillor Begg said the motion had been discussed and agreed to by the council before, and several other councils had favourably considered it.

Councillor Cumming seconded the motion.

Councillor Edwards objected to the motion, as he could not see any reason in making a reduction after the car had run a year. An old vehicle or car was more severe on the roads than what it was when it was new. It was unfair to I tax cars and cycles alone, leaving those using traps and buggies run on the roads free. If there was to be a tax on cars let it be in accordance with the weight of the ears, but he would prefer to see fa tax on all wheeled traffic if such a revenue was required for the upkeep of the roads. Councillor Smith said he looked on it i in the same light as Councillor Edwards, and he could not see why one class of wheel traffic should be taxed and another class allowed to go free. It seemed to him that a dray did more harm to the roads than a motor car. If there must be a tax on cars let it be made out according to the number of miles which they travel. An agent's car would travel more than a person's who kept a ear for pleasure, and it would not be fair to tax them all on the same scale.

t Councillor Miller said he would support the motion if the tax on a ten-year-old car was made the same as a new one.

Councillors Gumming and Nieol also spoke. The Chairman (Mr Clarke) suggested that the motion be amended so as to delete reference to reduction in the tax. He would support the motion if all the words between "vehicles" and "this tax, etc.," were deleted. Councillor Quin said motor cars were luxuries largely used by visitors and tourists, while vehicles were mostly used by ratepayers who paid for the upkeep of the roads. He thought the motorists should be compelled to pay something towards the upkeep of roads. Councillor Begg said the reduction was purely in the interests of motor-car owners, as a second-hand car would be practically unsaleable, on account of the full tax having to be paid on it. However, if it was the wish of the council he was quite willing to have the reduction deleted, and would move the motion as suggested by the chairman. The amended motion was then carried. CONTROL OF MATN ROADS. Councillor Nicol moved: "That main roads under all circumstances should be under the control of the county councils, and that the Government subsidise rates for their maintenance."

Seconded by Councillor Hay and car ried.

MERGING INTO BOROUGHS

The question of portions of counties merging into boroughs was brought up by the chairman, who referred to Rosebank's position at present. After a little rHf-ussion it was agreed, on the motion of Councillor Edwards, that the council's delegate at the conference be given a free hand in this matter. CONTROL OF TRAFFIC. Councillor Smith moved: "That it be recommended, that the Public Works Act be amended to extend f.lie powers of county councils regarding the control of traffic on certain roads."

The mover spoke particularly in reference to heavy traffic, and contended that the councils should have authority to control this.

Councillor Quin seconded the motion, which was carried. LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT.

Councillor Nicol moved: "Tirat section 29 of the Local Elections and Polls Act 1908, be amended so thai the returning officer may be empowesad to check his deputies' returns by counting the votes for each candidate, and: comparing rolls used at polling booths to check dual voting (if any)."—The main reason for this resolutoin was that it is only reasonable that a returning officer should satisfy himself as to the accuracy of votes before notifying result of election.—The motion was carried.

A motion by the chairman, seconded by Councillor Mitchell was also carried "That section 7 of the Local Elections and Polls Act be amended so that in counties a longer period than seven days be allowed between day of nomination.

and the day oF election, and suggest ■ that the word' seven' be altered to' ten' . in section 7 of the Act. ! The reason for this resolution was .' given that the time between nomination and election days in county dis- , tricts is too short to allow of getting ballot papers printed and sent to each polling booth. In reality only six days are available as Sunday always intervenes. In many districts there is only a weekly mail service end if that service be missed messengers have to deliver voting papers at great expense. >, Under the present system all preparations have to be made for conducting a ; poll before it is known whether one will be required or not. The suggested amendment makes the time optional. J