LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 222, 12 June 1908, Page 9

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE.

: . i- ; ... , —. . ; AMENDING LEGISLATION NEEDED.' {BY. TELEOEAFn—PttHSS ASSOCIATION.) • i. : Auckland, Juno' ll.' 'the conference of members of: Roads Boards ithis\aftoi'noon,.".Mr.-;-Alleni'(tho chair-; marij .-moved..that Government hp asked tb-'.givoii'Parliainentioai carlj"'/ofiportiihity >-of and consolidating the -lawsL.rela.tingoto'. tho/- - government of local bodies:- ; . Ho; said that -there' was :no question to 'his nurld 'th'iit relating to local government, required.' putting, in; brdorV Thore was ''one■' matter which prompted him to bring up'this proposal, and that was in regard; to -th 6 troublo of. negotiating loans. Ho had no hesitation 'in'- saying; that' the trend, of legislation:, instead'of being applied for the benefit of .the cities and large towns," should give some consideration to those' in :tho country. No public body came in for .more abuse, . less thanks, and more bitterness than the .local lioad'Boards, and no one could dony it. (Appla.itso and' laughter.) ; Iho rnotion was parried. ' DAIRY REGULATIONS. At the afternoon". sitting -of o. the' 4 'confer-' enco, ■ the question of'.the lations came .up. for-discussion'.'.' Mr. Ji A. :Comrio (Pukpkoho East) miSved '.'that the: Government .bo: asked to modify the regulations recently enacted in relation to dairy inspection." ■ ■ Mr. Massey, M.P., said the object of the Agricultural Department . should hp to assist the dairy farmer, but there had been numerous; complaints to' him that the -farmers were being harassed by the/new regulations.' A }Y, 0 . av * G to tear up. woodon floors in the. milking shdds;' The cost would bo a'very serious-matter, for .in many districts" tliey had no gravel for' making cement. Hp believed, in a'certain amount, of inspection, but the Government was going too far.'' He would; assist -.the Government in. establishing a. reasonable system .of inspection, but not in harassing the farmer. . Mr. P. XV. Lang M.P isiid that, what tho dairy farmers complained of was the feeling qf uncertainty, so much seemed to he left to the sweet will of the inspectors. 1 Cases of i' oa t ! ha.rdship had been ' brought under his notice, iliey. were agreed upon, the: need for prqper mspoctiori,';but' it should not be brought. about in such a way that it wouldbe a hardship, to. tho, farmers.. .The chairman "(Mr.;' Allen).said, that there' ivas no .doubt the system of, inspoction in tho past had boon very slipshod, and a better system was necessary. AVith reliable inspectors ho-, thought much good-would ensue; Ihere would not ho the sanie outcry against the regulations if trained, competent, and tactful inspectors, were turnod'out. llio motion was carried With tho followclause attached"M'hilst admitting that the regulations should bo; such as to provide cleanliness and the proper working of the industry, tW;shv.ild bo administered with moderation and in a manner tliat wi" •of causo unnecessary hardship." NOXIOUS WEEDS. V The sins of the Government in regard to aaJ no , n .-° bs .6"'.inco, nf the Noxious.-Weeds Ait; which it so rigidly, enforces against private individuals in certain cases, were loudly denounced by the, delegates. . Some ,of the speakers said that iri many' instances blackberries and-other noiious weeds/which' settiers were called upon to clear, had spread trom the Government's owu railway lino and tho case'was-cited by the-chairmah (Mr! Allen) of .one settler who had dug a trench a onssido. the railway, line to keep out the blackberries; but without avail. • Mr. Massey, M.P., said that not long ago several settlers had been fined at Pukekoho for failing to clear their land of blnckberrios, whilst at the same time tliero were blackberries growing in tho Court-house enclosure.

Mr. B. Andrew referred to.the growth of' blackberries on the footpath at- Ihikokoho, which, be said,.toro ladies'-dresses as, they passed. Ho spoke to a policeman on the subject, but that astute guardian, of 'the peaco acknowledged ..110 responsibility. Ho nest appealed to Mr. 'Northcroft, S.lt., with scarcely any-greater satisfaction, his'roplv being: "Go to King Edward. They nro Mb blackberries. (Laughter.)