THE COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 138, 13 June 1891, Page 2

THE COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

The conference of delegates from tho County Councils in the South Island affected by tho abolition of the Crown Lands Eating Act and tho gold duty Bat in tho Government Buildings the whole of yesterday afternoon, and transacted a good deal of business. On the motion of Mr. J. O'Meara (Chairman of tho Lake County Council), seconded by Mr. J. M'Kechnie (Chairman of the Groy County Council), Mr. P. Bronnan (Chairman of the Inangahua County Council) was voted to tho chair. Mr. M' Whirter, Chairman of the Westland County Council, moved, "That since tho repeal of tho Crown Lands Eating Act tho revenuo placed at the disposal of tho West Coast Counties and the Lake and Waimea Counties is quite inadequate to meot requirements, and unless tho Government providos something equivalent for tho loss of reveuno, local govornmqnt in those districts must assuredly break down." The motion was secoudod by Mr. O'Meara and agreed to. Mr. M'Kechnio moved—" That it is desirable to amend sub-section 5 of Bootion 311 of tho Counties Act, 18SG, so as to enable County Councils to make by-laws providing for the licensing of all vehicles using county roads, whether plying for hire or not." Tho resolution was seconded by Mr. Organ and agreed to. On tho motion of Mr. O'Mearn. seconded by Mr. Organ, it was agreed, li That tho Government bo asked to pass a Validating Act freeing members of goldficlds county councils from the responsibility placed upon them by section 211 of tho Counties Act, 1880, as owiug to tho abolition of tho gold duty and tho insufficient substitute promised by tho Mining Eating Act tho various goldfields counties are quite unable to regain the great loss previous to tho end of the financial year, and that the revenuo of tho financial year, 1887, bo taken n* a limit." Mr. M'Whirter moved — " (1) That tho Nelson, Westport, Grey, Inangahua, and Wcstland mam roads he recognisod as a colonial work, and tho Government be asked to defray the cost of maintaining tho samo, the said roads being to a considerable extent used for mail purposes alone. (2.) That the main road from Queenstown to the boundary of tho Vincent County bo considered in the same manner, roads to include bridges." Mr. M'Kechnio seconded tho resolution, which wivs agreed to. Mr. M'Whirter moved, Mr. Organ seconded, and it was agreod to, " That in view of the exceptional position of the Counties, owing to Crown lands being reserved for tho purpose of tho Midland Railway, this Conforonco recommends that tho colony should pay rates on the unseleoted lands within tho area, such rates not to excoed Id in tho £on the capital value, and tho amount payable to any one County not to excoed £2000 in any one year." At 5 o'oloqk tho Conference adjourned until 10.30 this morning. The Conference resumed this morning, whon Mr. Bird, Chairman of the Waimea County Council, took his seat for tho first time. Mr. M'Whirter moved, Mr. O'Meara sooonded, and it was agreed to, " That in all mining districts tho goldfields' revenue and rateß on mining property should be doomed to be county rovonue, and that no portion of revenuo accruing from such sources phould be appropriated by boroughs and town districts, as at present." Mr O'Moara moved, "That tho Minister bo asked to give his interpretation to clause 171 of the Mining Act, 18Cti, as to whether the proceeds of such sale are to bo considered county revenue, vidp section 3, Local Bodios Finance and Powers Act, 1885." This was soconded by Mr. McKcohnio and agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Mo Whirter , seconded by the Chairman, it was resolved " That tho goldfields rovenue, being local taxation, should be treated as rates payable to tho local authority, and subsidised out of the consolidated rovenue at the rate of £ for £." On the motion of Mr. Organ, seconded by Mr. M'Whirter, it wag resolved : — " That section 33 of the Local Bodies Loan Act, ICB6, bo amended so that if a majority of tho ratepayers recording their votes vote in favour of the proposal, the proposal be doomed carried." The Conference thon adjourned for lunch.