THE COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 139, 15 June 1891, Page 3

THE COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

— — ♦- Tho delegates from tho County Councils in tho South Inland affoctcd by tho abolition of tho gold duty and tho powor to rato Crown lands in mining districts mot again on Saturday afternoon, when tho following resolutions wore agreed to :— Moved by Mr. Organ and socondod by Mr. M'Whirtor— " That soctions-TJand 83 of tho Counties Act, 188G, bo amended so that alteration in tho roprcßentation and boundaries of ridings, or number of ridings in a county may bo made at any tirao during tho trionnial period, and on tho gazotting of tho Rpocial order making such alterations in tho representation or boundaries of ridings or counties, it shall at once come into operation. That in tho ovont of a petition, signed by not loss than two-thirds of tho ratopayors of a county ,_ boing presented to a County Council praying for alteration in tho ropresontation or boundariox, and tho County Council fail to mako a special order as nrayod for within four months of tho presentation of the petition, tho petitioners may sond thoir potition to tho Governor, who may take such stops as he dooms necessary to moot tho justice of tho caso." Proposed by Mr. Bronnan and sccondod by Mr. O'Meara, "That county councils should have <ho samo powor in tho mattor of firos and fire brigades as municipalities have under soction 347 of tho Municipal Corporations Aot, 188 C." Moved by Mr. M'Whirtoranrtaecondod by Mr. O'Moara, " That in tho opinion of this Conference there are too many local govorning bodies, and costly administration being oaiißod thereby, this Conforenco recommonds tho Government to bring about a chango, in the dirootion of merging and amalgamating Homo of tho said bodies with tho counties, ospooially in the goldfields districts. And for tho sake of economy, and for the purpose of rqlioving the West Coast and other conntioH of the enormous demands made for cbaritablo aid, tho Government oauso Dr. McGregor to mako an enquiry, and ascortain wnoro Barings can bo offected by tho amalgamation or closing of charitablo institutions, and that tho Governor-in-Council should havo powor to give effect to such recommondation Dr. McQregor may mako in this respect." Proposed by Mr. Bronnan, and socondod by Mr. MoKoohnie— " That tho Counties Aot should be bo amondod so as to onablo councils to voto a sum of monoy to dofray tho expenses of dologatos appointed to moot other looal bodies in connection with county matters." Proposed by Mr. Bronnan, and sccondod by Mr. O'Moara— " That counties (mould havo tho samo powor3 to deal with tho lighting of stroota as aro given to municipalities under section 353 of tho Municipal Corporations Aot, 1886." Proponed by Mr. Bronnan, and seconded by Mr. MoWhirter— " That clause 105 of the Counties Aot, 18C6, be amondod by excising tho words ' actual travolling only, coming a distanco exaoeding throe miles.' Tho Conferenco then adjonrncd until this morning.