COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 38, 13 August 1895, Page 2

COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

The annual Conferenoo of the New Zealmnd Coantiea Association was returned in Thomas' Hall this morning, the President, Mr. Yon Eeden ( Wai rarapa North) in the ohair. The following delegates were present foi the first time -Mesars. H. A. Field (Hutt), J. Kebbel(Horowhenna), Collins (Kaikoura), M. Phil Ups (Grey), Dioken (Pohangina), Bewley (Taranaki), Jacob (Kiwitea), Whitcombo (Pabiatua), Hislop (Hawera), and Hon. W. T. M. Latnaroh (Tuapeka). Mr. Coleman Phillips (Wairarapa Sontb) movod that Mr. F. A. Majendie, of the Hutt County Coancil, be President for the next year. Mr. Whitaombe (Pahiatua) seconded the motion. Mr. Honkhonee (Stratford) moved as an amendment that the retiring President shonld be re-eleoted. Mr. Yon Keden declined to stand again. Mr. Monkbouse said that in that case he would Bupport Mr. Majendie's eleotion. The motion was then put and agreed to. Mr. Majendie took the ohair, and returned thankß for the compliment paid him. Tho other offices were filled as follows :— Vice-Presidents, Messrs. Fraser, M H.E. (Lake and Vincent), Lang, M.H E. (Waipa, Raglan, and Waikato) ; Treasurer, Mr. H. A. Field (Hutt) ; Auditor, Mr Bolton (Pallia, tua) ; Committee, Messrs. M'N«b, jil.H E (Southland), T. Kebbell (Horowhenna), Monkhouae (Stratford), Coleman Phillips (Wairarapa South), *Yon Eeden (W&iratapa North), Dioken (Pohangina). It wsb decided that speakers Bhould not exceed five minutes, with the exception of movers of motions, who should be allowed to hold the floor for 10 minutes. Discussion was retained on the following motion by Mr. M'Kab, (Southland): — "That, with the view of affording immediate relief to local bodies, the Government be requested to amend during the present session of Parliament; ' The Local Bodies Loans Aot, 1880,' ' The Government Loans to Local Bodies Aot, 1886,' and ' The Counties Act, 188t>,' so as to empower the following things to be done : —1. That a, local body shall be. permitted to borrow money under 'The Government Loanß to Local Bodies Act, 1886,' in order to pay off its overdraft. 2. That as soon as any local body shall have paid off its overdraft in the above manner, it shall not be lawful for suoh local body to incur new liabilities as overdraft which shall at any time exceed the amount of uncolleoted revenue at that particular date." Mr. Allen, M.H.E. (Bruce) moved the addition of the following words :—" Provided that money so borrowed to pay off overdraft shonld not trench on the sum which the Government may by law provide each year for loans for works under the Aot." This was accepted by Mr. M'Nab, and the motion as amended was oarried. Mr. Yon Keden (Wairarapa North) moved — ** That power should be given to County Councils to levy by special order (in addition to the maximum {d rate) a general rate, not to exceed Jd in the £, for the purpose of creating a fund for the restoration of bridges on county roads, such funds to be invested by the Councils in the Publio Trust funds or other Government securities. This was seconded by Mr. Bewley (Taranaki), and carried. The Conference rejeoted the following motion proposed by Mr. Yon Eeden, and seconded pro forma by Mr. M'Gowan, M.H.E. (Coromandel) :— "That with a view of saving clerical work, and simplifying keeping accounts, County Councils shonld be clothed with power (to be exeroised only at the request ot a Road Board) to declare all roads within the district under the jurisdiction of suoh Board to be County roads, and thereupon the Council shall have authority to levy a aix-fartbing rate in such district. This provision to be made to apply also to outlying districts in which ' The Counties Aot, 1886,' is in full force." It was decided,. on the motion of Mr. T. Kebbell (Horowhenna), seoonded by Mr. Harding (Hobson), that Government should be requested to pay rates on all State Farms." Mr. T. Kebbell (Horowhsnua) proposed — " That the Bating Aot, 1694, be amended so as to allow Boards of Reviewers to sit and hear objections to the valuations, local bodies to suggest names to the Governor for appointment." The motion was seconded by Mr. Yon Seden (Wairarapa North), but was lost. On the motion ot Mr. Grimmond (Westland), seoonded by Mr. Fraser, M.H.B. (Lake and Vincent), it was decided -"That the Association recommend the following amendment to the Eating Aot, 1891, Til. : — That section 25 of the said Act be amended iv the direction of specifying dearly who shall be Judge of the Assessment Court in cases where more than one Magistrate exercises jurisdiction within the district of the looal authority." A motion by Mr. Grimmond, seoonded by Mr. Irving (Inangahua), " That seotion 61 of the said Aot be amended in the direotion of extending the period in which overdue rates may be uncovered," was lost. Mr. Grimmond also proposed, Mr. M'Padden (Buller), seoonded, and it was oarried — " That seotion 86 of the said Aot be amended in the direction of dearly defining the form and manner in which the rating of mining property may be made and levied." Mho following motion by Mr. Grimmond (Westland), seconded by Mr. H'Padden (Buller), was carried, on the casting vota of the President -.— " That the Association strongly recommends, failing a, provision to that effect in the proposed Local Government Bill, the rating of Crown lands in the form and manner proposed in the Eating of Crown Lands Bill of hist session of Parliament ; and that in the event of the proposed Local Government Bill not being carried into law, the Government be urged to enaot the measure proposed to and withdrawn from last session of Parliament." Mr. Monkhouae (Stratford) proposed — "That this Conference is of opinion that grave injustices are caused by the system of rating on improved values, and that County Councils should have the powqr of adopting a bystem of rating on unimproved values." Mr. Mason ( Whangarei) seoonded the motion, which was lost. [Left sitting. J ,