MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3170, 22 August 1917, Page 8

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

1 MEETING OF EXECUTIVE OF N;Z. ASSOCIATION Messrs. J. P. Luke (chairman), ,T. W. JE'Ewan (Mayor of 'Petone), H. Baldwin (Mayor of Hutt), 13. G. H. Burn (Mayor of Karon), I''. Towusend (Mayor of Miramar), — Snodgi'ass (.Mayor of Nelson), T. K. ,Sidey v jMayor of St. Kilda), and J. M. Dale (Mayor of Onslow) were present at a meeting of the Executive Committee of tho Municipal Association of New Zealand, held in the .Mayor's room yesteixiay. Apologies were received from the Mayor of l'almersto.i North, and Mr. A. il. Hindmarsh, M.P. ■ After welcoming she delegates tho ehuirman explained iliat no conference was held this year in view of the expense and the impossibility of getting much done in tho way of legislation. He acknowledged tho manner in which municipal executive officers, staffs, and employees right through tho Dominion had oarried out their duties, notwithstanding difficulties duo to the depletion of staffs and other war conditions. Thr. municipal services had heen maintained in a highly efficient state. Ho hoped that next year the war would be over, and if that were so they would hold tho conference. They had been marking time in municipal matters for some time past, and somo peoplo were apt to consider that the authorities had not tho same degree of initiative or zeal for the public welfare. Ho believed that they were as, earnest and as copablc as in past ycarS. Objectionable Posters. Tho first remit dealt with, was from the Oamani Borough Council—"That uniform by-laws be passed by borough councils in respect, of objectionable posters."" In reply to the chairman, the association's solicitor (Mr. T. F. Martin) ho coukl draft a uniform by-law {or submission to municipalities. Mr. Baldwin said it would b« impossible to draft a by-law that, would satisfy all local bodies. The question was ono for tho Government to take up, not for each municipality. Tho remit was lost, and on the motion of Mr. F. Townscnd it was resolved— "That tho Government be asked to enact amending legislation to dtfu.l more efficiently wilh objectionable post-el's."

Local Elections. In connection with local elections and polls the following remits, all from Chrislchurch, ivero approved:— "Proportional Representation — I hat, tho time between election'of Mayor and liis taking offico bo extended." "That provision be made for councillors, to retain their offico until election cf their successors." "That the directions to voters as to placing the numbers 1. 2, and U, ctc., ho made clearer." "Contemporaneous Elections. —That it bo mado clear that ,<overal voting papera may bo handed to the voter by the same officer, and at tho tame time, and that tho elections generally bo treated as one. "Voting Papers—That the method or marking voting papers bo tho same at all elections and polls." "Deposit—That, it be made perfectly clear when 'a candidate forfeits bis deposit."

Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act. Tho following remits from Lower Hutt wero passed:— ' "Subsidy.—That tho Government subsidy to hospital and charitable aid boards be 20s. in tho pound "That tho Government .subsidy to sanatoria bo 21s. in tho ponnd." "That the Oiovernmont subsidise all hospital and charitable aid boards Ms. in tho pound for capital expenditure "Indigent Children.—l hat tho btato tato tho control and mamreiuwjco oi all indigent children in tho Dominion.