MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 528, 8 June 1909, Page 11

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS.. The Execntive and Legislative Committee. of the Municipal Association of Now Zealand met yesterday, when there were present: Mr. J. Piper (Mayor of Nelson) in tho chair, Mr. J. A. 1 Nash (Mayor of Palmerston North), Mr. O' , I. Dasent (Mayor of Karori), Councillor Hindmarsh (Wellington City Council), and Mr. T. ¥. Martin (secretary of the association)... . . . . ... v The following recommendations were adopted:— . ; ;.. ' . That the power to remove Sinking Fund Commissioners conferred.. by Section 148 of the Municipal, Corporations Act, 1900, but which does not appear to be included in the Looal Bodies Loans Act, should be restored to municipal corporations.—(Christchurch .City Council).- ■.-','■' . : '. \ ..-' That the Government be requested to bring in legislation providing that the Crown shall pay rates on properties taken by the Government until a rateable occupier comes into occupation. Further,. that the attention of the Government bo drawn to the. fact that where educational reserves are leased for short periods, the local authority cannot levy rates, arid that the Government be asked to introduce legislation under which it would pay rates on. these reserves,—(Petone Borough Council).. '.■■; ; ; ". ; ; "■'■'■■ ,■•'• ." ..'■'■ ■ . "That the association take'action to secure the repeal of Section 25 of the Local Bodies Loans Amendment' Act, 1908, in that the Present method of payinent to commissioners tor local investment yields much better results than would bo the case were tbo.moneys invested by the Public Trustee in Government securities, also.-r-(Auckland City Council). ; A recommendation from the, 'Christchurch City Council, :"That the Local Bodies Loan Act, 1908, be amended to provide-registration of the 'holders, of municipal debentures," was lost. ;-' , •-."■■' .-.-.■ ■'.'..'.' : '. ■

■That Section 24 of the Local Elections: Act, 1908, be amended in that the present method of voting by making a cross in the square set opposite. the, name.; of the candidate in whose favour the voter desires..to record a vote,, is confusing, - and should bo replaced by the much easier and simpler method of draw-ing-aline, through tho names of candidates for whom; the voter does, not ] wish;to vote, as provided in the Regulation of Local Elec-' tions Act, 1876,' repealed, and also in the Legislature Act, 1908, Section 130,-;-(Brou£ht , forward by Port; Chalmers Borough Council). That iu cases' whero. a vacancv occurs in the, council during the six months prior to 'the'bienmal election, the council shall have, power to iilj the vacancy.—(Auckland City Council).;. ,v -- ' . ■.. '■•-.■.,■ !; (1) That.steps' be taken .to: have amend-, ments" mado in tho Municipal- Corporations Act, 1908, so that the latest compiled valuation list be used in connection with .tho making up of ihe'district electors'; list;; (2)That tlie aesooiation opposo-any;action taken to amend the Auctioneers Act, 1908, in : re-. ga'rd >to'permitting a ; substitute being■ appointed for given, periods so as;te,do,'away with the necessity of giving notice.to resume : selling by the licensee.—(Thames ■ Borough •Council).•'■,.-' : '■■■,"■.-;•■•,'..■'■■,;'.- .-.■■.■. . . .; ;,

''~". (1) That'Scction 70of the Eating AcC 1903, bo amended toprovide that the additional charge of 10 per' cent,; shalKbecomo payable after six months.from -the date upon which the rates first became recoverable irrespective of whether they are sued for. or not. (2) That, the. Bating Act, 1908; be amended to provide .for the amalgamation of rates levied over the 'same -area on .tho same (Christchuich City Council). '.' .."..••■ ..'.., .• That ...the Local ..Elections .-Poll Act, 1908, ... be amended .so !as to! provide that ' Returning'/ Officers supply '.ho Town ;Clerk. with a marked!. roll: after each election, bo as to-, enable him :to purge' the ; roll at the date's fixed/ by the . Muhioipal Corporations . Act.—(Palmerston North Borough Council). : ;,' ■■''.;: ,'-.;:. ■ />.■ The following • recommendations were rejected:— .-' ;-.■: ■■.;■'. • ;. : '.■■ .■■ ■. ■ j- ■',■: ■, "

-. That all municipalities should be exempt from the awards of-the Arbitration Court so ; as to avoid the! anomalies now existing iby ; the men working under different awards.—(Auckland City Council): \ ;'■■-.•■■ .' >: -: That Section 85 of the Municipal Corporations Act;i9oß, be amended to provido that water rates may. be payable in advancehalf. yearly'or yearly as the .council 'from time to time determine.—(Christch'urch City Council). "That provision be made in ' the' Locai Eleotions and PollsActior allowing a recount of votes by. the Returning Officer, the same as is'provided by tho-Legislature Act; 1908 —(Thames Borough, Council). '■■ {■-,-■ .'•■ 'That.thoLocal Bodies Lpane Act/1908, -be' amended to provide registration , of the holders of municipal debentures.—(Christchurch CiU Council).. ; - - . : ; - :" ' ■:■■'. ■,-.■■'.-■■•■

: ; The; question of 'establishing a joint - suporannuation sohemo was referred to the conference in 1910.. , ; ■ Y ' .'. ■■.•■■-■•;• ;