MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 302, 15 September 1921, Page 9

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

CONFERENCE OF NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION ' SOME OF THE REMITS i • Mr. T. F. Martin (secretary) has issued notices convening, a conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, to be held in Wellington, commencing September 28. In all 79 remits have been received dealing with all phases of municipal government. The following is a selection from the order paper:— District Electors’ Roll—Names Received before 'Ttoll Closed. —That section 13 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, bo amended to authorise the town clerk to add to the district electors’ roll the names of electors whoso claims for enrolment have been actually received by him before the time fixed by the Act for the closing of such roll. — Contracts with Councillors. —That section 40, paragraph “h,” be amended by omitting the following words: “If the payment made or to be made on behalf of the council in respect of any such contract exceeds five pounds in tho case of a single contract, or ten pounds altogether in any financial year in the case of two or more contracts."—(Stratford.)

Audit Fees. —That a protest be entered against the action of the Government in increasing the charge for auditing the accounts of 11 local authorities to what we* consider is a figure much in excess of the actual cost, tho charges having been increased by Order-in-C’ouncil for ordinary audits from £2 per day of six hours -(or 6s. Bd. per hour) to A 3 3s. per day of seven hours (or 9s. per hour). —(Invercargill.)

Overdraft Interest. —That a strong protest Im made against the action of the Government in passing, tho-recent legislation for increasing the rate of interest on overdrafts (Finance Act, 1921, s. 14) without consulting the borough councils. —(Tauranga.) Arterial Roads.—That necessary amending legislation bo sought vesting the control and maintenance of all main arterial roads in 'the Government. —(Devonport.)

Dedication of Private Roads. —That -power be given to local bodies to compel dedication by the owners, subject to the local 'body's requirements, of all private roads, \ised by the public as public roads.—(Tuakau Town Board.) Hedges Obstructing. View. —That section 205 of the Municipal Corporation? Act, 1920, be amended, if necessary, to fe've loctii bodies power to compel owners of corner sections to lower to a height of 3 feet 9 inches Any hedge which by reason of its height obstructs the view of persons driving or riding along a street.—(Christchurch.) , Plan of Buildings Erected by Government! —Thar, notwithstanding the fact mt" 17i6 by-laws oT a*' borough do not apply to Crown property*, the Govern; ment be urged, when erecting buitSlngS or altering buildings in any borough to submit the plans of such buildings to tho council in order that necessary Information in regard to drains, waterpTpes, etc., mar be embodied in the borough records—Passed at last conference.—(New Plymouth.)

Two-Story Buildings m fTaln Thoroygltfii res.—That legislation be introduced giving councils power to make by-laws compelling owners when erecting ,or recreating buildings in the main thoroughfare,■'to erect same with a height of two storys, and prohibit erection of hulhb ings of one story in suoh locality.—(GT«r borne.) ' Uniform Sanitary By-lawa.—That tn« Government be requested lb take slops to introduce a uniform set of compulsory by-laws dealing with sanitary plum'bfni and drainage.—(Mount Albert.) Licensed Vehicle 358 (c) of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920— Delete 10 per cent', and substitute 15 per cqnt. It is considered mat 10 ncr cent, is not sufficient to cover the costs of collection, provision of stands, licensing and inspecting vehicles, etc. —(Christchurch.) Building over Footnaths.-TConsidcra-tion of a letter from Mr. W. Y. H. Hall pointing out that in some cities in different parts qf the world buildings are allowed to' be carried over the footpaths at the height of the, first floor, and supported on pillars atj the outer edge- of the footpath, revenue being derived by the municipalities for the privilege.—(lnvercargill.) Advances for Electric Connections to be Charged on Land.—That the Government be asked to amend section 283, Municipal Act, 1920 (under which the council is empowered to advance to occupier of premises the' cost-of installation of electricity), whereby all repayments on account of the advances .shall tea charge against the land and may bo recovered as rates are recovered 'under the Rating Act, 1903, and tho provisions Of that Act as to the recovery of rates shall apply accordingly.; It will be seen that the remit is similar to section 23 of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Act, 'l92o—(Thames.) Inferior Gas Supply.-That legislation bo introduced: (a) To provide that the consumer shall We charged for the volume of gas which is supplied upon a basis of heat units actually available iu -.that volume such calorific value to be determined at frequent intervals by some' authority independent of the supplying bodies; (b) to provide for authoritative testing of and supervision over Zs meters; (c) to make it compulsory for the supplying bodies to provide gas of a standard purity to be fixed by the , Government by regulation for each district This remit is based upon tne recommendation of tho Auckland Prices Investigation Committee, and embodies the further recommendation submitted by tho general manager of the borough and tho borough engineer to the council. —(New Plymouth.), Registration of all Vehicles. —That pro- ' vision be mode for the compulsory registration .and numbering of nil vehicles, whether for' private, use or for business purposes, and whether horse, mo ot, steam, or otherwise driven.—(Riccarton.) Arrests for Breaches of By-laws.— That a recommendation bo made to the Government to amend tho Municipal Corporations Act. 1920, by providing that "any constable may take into custody, without waiTant, any person who, within his view, offends in any manner against flic provisions of the. Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, and its amendments or anv by-laws made under tho said Act land its amendments, and whose name and residence arc unknown to such con- • stable and cannot be ascertained by him.\ —(Riccarton.) Exemption from Rating—That tho Rating Act bo amended to provide that properties exempted from rating should be exempted from general Tate only, and should pay all other rates; the proposed amendment not to apply to properties used exclusively for religious worship— (Christchurch.) Discount for Prompt Payment: Penalty after Four Months.-Tlmt the Government bo asked to amend the Rating Act' so as to provide: (1) That if rates are paid on or before a certain date, say one month after the rate has been struck, a discount of 2* per cent, will be allowed; (2) Hint if the rates are Paul within four months the terms will be net; (3) that after four months a penalty of 10 Tier cent, will bo added ; (4) that the schedule form of the rote demand be altered so os to show clearly the dates on which the rntw are due and the conditions regarding payment. —(Invercargill.) Devonnort asks that 10 per pent, discount be allowed on rates paid within a month from demand. * Tt in thnL of tno four oily councils Rhe rentefw) Christchurch is the onlv body which has forwarded remits to the conference. >