COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 39, 14 August 1895, Page 4

COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

Tbe following business was transacted at yesterday afternoon's sitting of the Conference :—: — JCr. Monkhouse (Stratford) proposed— '■ That valuations for rating pnrposea sbonld be made by Government, to secure uniformity in tbe standard of valuations, as inequalities between local valuations are now causing serious injustice where several distrusts have to contribute a common rate for harbour, hospitals and charitable aid, and similar purposes." The motion was seconded by Mr. Collins (Kaikoura) and carried. Mr. Monkhouse also proposed — " That when road improvements are made under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act or similar Acts, the repayment for the cost i f which iB secured by a lien on the settlers' holdings, the increased value given by Buoh improvements should not be added to the unimproved value bnt be considered as part of the improved value." This was seconded by Mr. Bewley (Taranaki), and lost. Mr. Yon Eoden moved—" That the Con. ference should urge upon the Government the desirability of County Councils keeping records oE all loans raised within their respective Counties, and for this purpose making it obligatory for all Road Boards tc furnish full particulars of all loans heretofore or hereafter to be raised in their districts, showing the nature of the proposed work, the amount raised, the description and valuation of the proposed rating area, any other security pledged, the amount oi special rate in the £, and the dates of rais ing and expiry of the loan." The motion was seconded by Mr. Kebbell (Eorowhenua), and carried. the Confersnce also passed the following motion by Mr. Monkhouse (Stratford) and seconded by Mr. Collins (Kaikoura) : — " '1 h*i ■he following provision be added to 'The Government Loans to Local Bodiea Aot, viz., if it be found impracticable or in advisable, from unforeseen phyeioal difficnlties or other cause, to complete the public work for which any loan has been obtained and that hence all the money lent is not re quired for the purpose for which it was oorrowed, then such part as is not so required shall be repaid to the Treasurer, anc the Treasurer shall return to the loca' authority debentures to a corresponding amount." On the motion of Mr. Yon Reden (Wairarapa North), seconded by Mr. Logan (Manio toto), it was decided that the following proviso be added to clause 2 (a) of sectior 130 of the Publio Works Act, 1894 :— " Pro vided that auoh regulations may, at th( option of the local body making the same apply only to oertain classes of such vehicles.' Mr. Yon Reden (Wairarapa North) also pro posed — " That power should be given toloca bodies to prohibit the planting of trees witbii a specified distance from the northern anc western boundaries of road reßerveß, witl the right to compel owners of plantation! already made in such situations to trim the trees, within that distance, to a height noi exceeding 6ft from the natural Burfaoo of thf ground." Mr. Collins (Kaikoura) seconded An amendment by Mr. Monkhouse (Strat ford) to strike out all the words after "re serves," wai accepted by Mr. Yon Reden and the motion as amended was carried. Mr. Yon Beden (Wairarapa North) pro posed, Mr. Bolton (Pahiatna) seconded, anc it was carried, "That Bpeoial powers be created to enable local bodies to deal witl the nuisances arising from tbe plantation! i of willows and othor aqueous plants on tht banks of creeks and on private properties.' Mr. Yon Reden (Wairarapa North) alsc proposed, " That power should be given t< local bodies to enter, in case of emergency only, upon oither cultivated or fenced landi adjacent to a road, and make and use a tern porary road thereon whilst the road is beinf constructed or repaired." Ihe motion wai seconded by Mr Logan (Alaniololo), ai whose suggestion a compensation olausi was added, and the resolution as amendec was carried. It was moved by Mr. Gnmmond (West land)— " That the Association recommend failing the enactment of the proposed loca government reform, that goldfields revenue oe treated as rates payable to the loca' authority, and be subsidised out of the Con solidated Funds." Mr. Irving (Inangahna seconded the motion, which was carried bi 8 to 7. Mr. M'Nab (Southland) proposed, Mr Kebbell (Horowhenua) seconded, and it was carried, " 1 hat the law relating to hawken requires amending in such manner as tc prevent hankers who do not contribute towards a county's revenue from competing with local traders. " The following motion by Mr. Yon Redei (Wairarapa North), seconded by Mr. Dicker (Pobangina), was lost:— "1 hat the Conference take a legal opinion on the quoatior of the system adopted by local bodies in colleotingspecial rates tomeetinterest on loans, as to whether these should be calculated foi the whole currency of the loan on the ratable values in force at the time the loan is raised, or whether the valuation roll ' for the time being in force,' should be made the basis foi puch calculntion, and the amount of special rate to be collected recalculated every third year." Mr. Kebbell (Horowbenna) moved — " That tlio Association considers section 51 of the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act, 1894, with regard to its effect on thebutchois licensed by County Counoilß, the county revenue, and the absence of any provision in it compelling farmers (killing under the section) to keep a book and make entries aa prescribed in Beclion 34, and that the Association recommend the Government to strike out section 51 from the Act." Mr. Harding (Hobson) seconded. An amendment by Mr. Monkhouse (Stratford)— " That an addition be made to clause 51, providing that the number of cattle slaughtered by farmers shall not exceed 20 small and four great cattle per month, and that a record of tho same bo kept," was carried. At 10 minutes past 5 tho Conference adjourned until this morning.