COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 40, 15 August 1895, Page 2

COUNTIES' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

The Conference resumed at 9.30 o'clock this morning. Amongst the delegates present were — Messrs. J. Laird (Waitotora), D. Buiok (Manawatu), and W. Snow (Taieri). The Treasurer (Mr. H. Held) laid on the table the balance-sheet for last year, showing that there was about .£lB to the credit of the Association. He urged the delegates of those Councils which had not yet paid their susoriptions to forward the amount as soon as possible. Mr. M'tfab, M.H.R (Southland) moved, Mr. Peat (Patea), seconded, and it was agreed to — " That ' The Abattoirs and Slaughterous a Act, 1891,' be amended in such manner as to cause nil license and inspection fees to be paid to the local autoority in wliobo district the licensed premises are situated." It was decided on the motion of Mr.M'Nab (-"outhland), Eeconded by Mr. Honkhouso (stratford) — " That ' The Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act, 1891,' be amended in Buch inaunor as to oaase freezing com. pauies to pay inspection fees on all carcases offered by them tor Eale in looal markets, and entries relating thereto to be made as provided in section 3i of the said Act." Mr. M'Nab (Sontbland; also proposed — "That section 26 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1886, should be repealed, and section 22 of the 1885 Ant substituted therefor." Captain M'Mahon (Waitemata) seconded the motion pro forma. Considerable discussion took place. Many of the delegates oomplaiued of the burden imposed upon the local bodieß by the Act. | Mr. Harding (Hobson) asserted that if tho annual levy to his Conneil kept on increasing, all the ratoa would be required for Hospital and charitable aid purposes. The burden was, he pointed out, most unfair, because the majority of the money required under* the Act was spent in assisting gumdiggers and others who did not pay rates. Mr. Williams (Bay of Islands) said that io his county the rates amoanted last year to .£6OO, and of that sum one-third w»b required for Hospital and oharitable purposes. The motion waa lost. The Conference, however, passed a motion by Mr. M'Nab (Southland), Beconded by Captain M'Mahon (Waitemata)—" That the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Aot, 1886, should be amended so as to make more clear the method of levying the contributions payable by boroughs and counties aa to the basis of proportion of annual value to capital value." Mr. M'Nab (Sonthland) moved— " That this Conference expresses strong disapproval of the provisions of the Publio Tenders, Contracts, and Works Bill now before Parliament, bo far as they relate to the provisions regulating the carrying out of the contracts of local bodies." Mr. Edwards (Ohinemuri) seconded the motion, and in doing so said he considered that the Government had treated local bodies with contempt in not acquainting them with the provisions of a Bill which affected them so unfairly. Several other delegates expressed the opinion that if the Bill passed the small contract system, which hod worked so well in their counties, would receive its deathblow. Mr. Buick (Manawatu and Manchester) said that the Bill was a most undesirable one. If it passed, every contractor would require to have a college education, and every board and county would have to hayo a special olerk to keep the books reqnired by the Jaw. The motion was agreed to unanimously. Mr. Lang, M.H.R. (Raglan, Waikato, and Waipa), on behalf of tho Hon. E. Mitchelson, proposed — "That this Association Btrongly protests against the present system of levying contributions to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and directs attention to the fact that increasing amounts demanded from local authorities from year to year indicate that the system is a rapidly growing evil." This waa oeoonded by Mr. Kobbell (Horowbenna) and agreed to. Mr. Lang also moved on behalf of Mr. Mitohelßon— " That the Conference also protests against the annual Government Bubsidy being paid over to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, instead of to the banking account of the respective looal authorities upon whom the contributions are levied." Seconded by Mr. Collins (Kaikoura). Mr. Field (Hutt proposed, as an amendment, " That Parliament be requested to bo amend tha law as to enable the payment of tho annual Government subsidy to be made direct to the looal bodies having to pay Hospital and charitablo aid rates, and empower the said locil bodies to administer oharitable aid." Mr. Yon Beden (Wairarapa) seconded. Both the motion and amendment were lost. Mr. Logan (Maniototo) moved " That with a view to better the position of the aged poor or infirm, and to reduce the pauperism which is rapidly increasing in our midst, the Government be requested to take steps to formulate a Boheme for their relief." Seconded by Mr. (Collins (Kaikoura), and carried. Mr. Logan (Maniototo) also proposed — " lhat the Government provide funds for the maintenance of paupers who have been in any district less than one year previous to applying for relief, and that looal bodies be empowered to grant charitable aid to extreme oases brought under their notice, but be left an entirely free hand to grant or refuse, such grants to be deducted trom the the general contribution towards charitable aid." The motion was seconded by Mr. Collins (Kaikoura), and lost. It was moved by Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.H.E. (Clutha)— " That in the opinion of the Conference the moiety raised towards hospital and oharitable aid be levied on all property, real and personal, and not confined, as now, to real property." Seconded by Mr. W. Fraser, M.H.K. (Lake and Vinoent), and carried. It was moved by Mr. Williams (Bay of Islands), seconded by Mr. Edwards (Ohinemuri)—" That the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Aot, 1886, be amended so that tho oounty upon whom the charges will fall shall bo referred to before oharitable aid or hospital assistance is given, and that the county shall not be held responsible for any patients admitted without the written authority of snoh county." After considerable discussion the motion was withdrawn. On the motion of Mr. Fraser, M.H.H. (Lake and Vincent), seconded by Mr. Lang, M.H.G. (Waipa, Kaglan, and Waikato), it was deoided that for the remainder of the present sitting, and until other standing orders are adopted, the Standing Orders of the House of Kepresentativea should be the standing orders of the Asßooiation, and that during the recess the Executive should frame standing orders. Captain M'Mahon (Waitemata) moved— " I bat the Government subsidise County Councils £ for £ for all moneys expended on main roads. Main roads to be defined by the Surveyor -General." Mr. Monkhonse (Stratford) seoonded. The following amend, ment waa proposed by Mr. Coleman Phillips ( Wairarapa South) seconded by Mr. Logan :— : "That Parliament throw upon the local bodies, wherever it is not impracticable, the Bole construction and maintenance of the roads of the colony, assisting them out of Consolidated Bovenne in the _ following manner: — 1. For roads of colonial importance, to be defined by Parliament, a sum of. money equal to their cost. 2. For main dutriot roads, to be defined by tha SurveyorGeneral, a snbsidy of £ for £. 3. For purely local roads, their present subsidy upon rates." The amendment was carried. I Left Bitting.]