MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1421, 23 April 1912, Page 5

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

fEMITS-FOfi 1912 CONFERENCE,

pile■ t9IB Conference D f the Municipal Association of Noit Zealand'will assemble at Wellington, probably during the !ir-t week in July, Tho actual date of meet lug has not jot boon fixed. Manv mum havo already been sont in for consideru non. X'ho plan was adopted of printins a circular containing all tho resolutionor past conforcncca which havo not vet been given effect to in legislation. 'J'his circular was cent out to the local bodies affiliated with tho association, so that, they might move to reaffirm any resolution if they so desired. Following urV some of the more important remits already received:— Investment of Surplus Loan Moncv.inat an alteration bo mado in the Muni-' cipnl Corporations Act, 1008. nllowing tho investment of surplus loan moneys in tho District hum! Account; or in tho altcnia-' live, that an amendment be made in the' Bank ng Act, 1908, requiring the honk<' Jo tako into consideration tho local authonlies accounts in credit, tho excess ot tho debit accounts over tho credit accounts, if any, to bo the amount on which interest shall be charged as over'-' urajt.—Petono Borough Council. Humping.—That in all municipal olco* tioiis tho electors must record a voto for °. , l °I .t! lc ro a nir «l number of candidates, foiling which the voting poper be ' declared void—Green Island Borough Council.

Motor Kegulatioli.—That- in order 'to prevent confusion, tho Motor Regulation Act ot 19DS be amended so ns lo provide that each registering body shall be compelled to use the initials comprising the name of the registering body as an idenliheation mark for motors, together with a number commencing at No. I—Palmcrslon North Borough Council. r! 1 " !O A7„! ll , (,t: llle Jlotor Halations Act (it inns bo amended so as to provide lor the speed at which motors mav cross intersections of streets and drive around coiners of streets in cities and boroughs. —I'almerstan North Borough Council. Drivers' Ortiiicntes.-Thnt the Motor Regulations -l«t of 1008 ho amended providiiig Hint all drivers of motor-cars in cities or boroughs shall he over sixteen years of age, and must be in possession of a ccrtiiicnte of proficiency ns a driver. 1 —l'nlinerston North Borough Council." ' Drivers Certificates.—That Borough Councils be enabled to pass bv-laws prohibiting any parsons, male or female, from driving motor-cars until thev have obtained -a certificate of competency.— Christchurch City Council.

By-laws re Hoardings.—That in ■ viovr..> of the decision of the Supreme Court on the Cliri.stchureb Hoarding and Skysign 'Hy-Livws (Smith v. Cuxf Smith v. Aew Zuiluml Express Company, 13 Gazette L.K. 181, l(j.l) (he .Municipal Corporations Act bo amended so as to enable by-laws- to bo made- concorniiiglioarilingo and sky-signs already creeled; - " --Wellington City Council. Payments to Bands.-T'liat the following sub-section be added to Section £99 of-ilio' Municipal Corporations Act, 1908:—"(.')) . The council may out of its -general funds pay to a band or bands a sum not oxcceding in all J3IOO, per annum for supplying music in any of tho pleasure grounds, gardens, libraries,, museums, music halls, or gymnasiums, provided for tho purposo of enjoyment or recreation of the public." (Tho Audit Onico refuses to pass such payments.)—Palmcrston. ivorth Borough Council. Travelling Allowances.—That the.--Gov* ornor-in-Council, under the powers..conferred by Section 13 of tho Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, )910, be requested to fix tho travelling allowmice of Mayor or councillors travelling' on tho council's business,*-with the niw tlioriiy of the council at first-class train or steamer fair return, and 20.5. per day for the time actually occupied in ir'aveiling and performing tho work authorised by the said council.—Palmerston. North Borough Council. ■• .

That tho Municipal Corporations' Act be amended with a view to cxtonding tho period for which a councillor is elected to three years, and that all other borough councils bo asked to assist in the niatter.-Christchurch City Council. Plumbers' Kegistration Bill.—That in any Plumbers' Registration Bill provision be mado giving local authorities full control over and power to indorse or suspend plumbers' licenses.—Xelson Borough Council. . Insanitary Buildings.—That Section 90 in tho Public Health Act, 1908, bo amended so ns to hiithonse'local bodies to "order repairs to buildings,—Wellington City Council.

Government 'and Education Department"' Lands Let on Short Tenancies.—That on* - short tenancies all lands' held 'bv the"' Government, or in trust for tho Education ■'". Department, bq rateable if they nro lefbytho week or month or onv'-less len---ancy than sufficient to bring' tilo person.'-.' in occupation within thci present delink"' lion of "occupier," and that in all these-'"., cases the owner will bo liable for rates.—" Pnlmerston North Borough* Council. • That Soction 80 of (lie Municipal Cor. porations Act, 1908, and Section 70 of tha Rating Act, 1908, be amended to empower local authorities to add 10-per cent, to' all rates when first demanded, with"'a'

view to allowing, a discount of. 10. per cent, on all rates paid within .threo months after duo datavniid a discount of n per cent, on all rates paid between three and six months after duo' ditto.— Christchureh Cit-- Council.

Stamp Duty- L'hat all contracts and , bonds of local bodies bo exempt' from Stamp Duty.—Wellington City Council. A number of remits approved bv tho Wellington City Council at its hist meeting have already appeared in The Dominion". The Johnsonvillo Town Hoard has for-; warded a remit urging, that arrangementsi should bo mads for tho payment of iu-i torcst. on State Guaranteed Advances 1 ' Loans' in a manner similar to that on"' Treasury loans.; - ■*