MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 232, 24 June 1908, Page 7

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

CITY COUNCIL REMITS. Tho City Council's remits to tho Municipal Conference were approved at a special meeting last ovening in very much the same form in which they wero published last week in Tub Dominion. ' On the motion of Councillor Luke, an addition was macle to one remit that Councils should have power to prevent tho use in aiiy building of timber which had been condemned in another district. Councillor Luke stated that often when buildings were condemned in the city, the timber was carted away and used for the'erection of premises in the suburbs. - - ■ Councillor Fisher moved a new remit for the introduction of tho Parliamentary franchise for municipal ballots,, oscept in the case.of loan proposals. At the last Mayoral election it was shown how impracticable it was for tho Council officials to say whether a particular man was or was not a dulyqualified elector. Indeed, under the various qualifications which existed it was sometimes quite impossible to decide the eligibility of a voter. ' i ' ' • The Mayor held that this was a proposal to bring new matter before the Council. Personally, he objected to sit there and go into a discussion of the franchise.

Councillor Fisher: There is no discnssion. Tho Mayor: You ,can't expect that' tho matter will not be "discussed. His Worship stated that it was not fair to absent Councillors to bring up such a matter without notice. The subject wns not cognate with anything in the report. Councillor Hindmarsh was in favour of tho motion being put. . - s ■■ Tho Mayor .said that it could be taken if all the Council so desired. Councillor Hindmarsh: I think that we are all in favour of it. . Councillor Biss thought, that it was too largo a question to discuss on the moment. Councillor Fisher: Of courso, if your Worship decides . The Mayor: It is not I who decide. No new motion can be put without tho consent Of the whole Council. As Councillor Biss still'dissented, the motion was not put. Mefesrs. Hall and Knight wrote asking the Council to consider ■ whether it • could add a remit dealing with Section 116 of tho Public Works Act IOOS. Tho construction put upon the existing law caused inconvenience to landowners, and land conveyancers, and tho law was. retrospective in offect. If a Bill wero introduced to cause the section only to apply, where a landowner created a now road ■ or roads mufch of the inconvenience would disappear. Tho suggestion was referred to the Leaseholds and Legislation Committeo.