THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 21, 25 July 1898, Page 4

THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

♦ Some valuable work was done by the Municipal Conference just closed. The discussions and resolutions of such an assembly should prove of distinct use to our legislators when Municipal Bills are before the House* The gentlemen composing the Conference are all closely connected with the practical side of looal government, and their opinions on the existing system and on the reforms it is proposed to make in it should have weight with men desirous of finding out what is really best in the interests of the colon}'. It is manifestly absurd and arbitrary to treat the Conference with the discourteous contempt that the Premier tried to heap upon it. The reason for this move on Mr. Seddon's part is not far to seek. He realised that the Conference was too independent and influential a body to truckle to him iv the way that so many labour associations have done in the past, and consequently he was determined from the outset to discount to the uttermost of his ability any decisions adverse to his measures that might be expressed. A trick of this nature is quite consistent with the general policy of the meu now ruling the colony, but it is not conducive to truo reform or proper administration. Ttvijje deputations wailed on the Premier with reference to the Conference, and in each case the impression conveyed, was that the Government did not think it worth while to pay heed to the recommendations of such bodies. When this reception is contrasted with the open-armed welcome accorded to a nondescript labour organisation like the Workers' union, thinking men must wonder that the Government's legislation is not even more ill-advised than it is. We would not imply for a moment that the Municipal Conference contained all the wisdom of the colony devoted to the study of local government, but we do think that the geutlemeu composing it had proved by their past public services that their ideas on municipal questions were worthy of consideration. A largo number of subjects were discussed by the Conference, and many resolutions carried, but the most important matters dealt with were the Municipal Franchise, the Municipal Corporations Bill, and the question of lire insurance and fire brigades. As far as the franchise was concerned, the Conference was practically mwuhnous in enUrging the elootorata to embrace house.

holders, wliile a considerable number of delegates were ready to support tho extension 1o joint occupants. With regard to the Municipal Corporations J3ili, it was fairly evident from the Premier's reply to the deputation from the Conference that he has no intention of proceeding with the Bill— that is, of course, provided it is not forced upon him by public opinion. The reorganisation of our local government system lms long been an urgent necessity, and the fact that it has been at hut brought well within the sphere of practical politics is largely due to tlie exertions of the Municipal Conference and other associations of local bodies. The Premier cannot see votes in a statesmanlike reform of the system to the same extent as he can in an extension of the franchise, and consequently all thought of the larger measure is thrown aside, and tho popular portion alone forced on. Tho largf r Bill has been before the country for some tiino, and (o thin the Municipal Conference devoted a good deal of attention, oven setting up a special committee to report upon it. .Apparently, its main provisions met with approval, although some important amendment* were suggested. Under the Bill all the Councillors of a borough or a cif.y had to rfttire at the. same time, and a sort of general municipal election was to be held. This would naturally destroy the continuity which is so necessary to a Corporation's administrative functions, and the Conference, therefore, suggested that, as now, Councillors should retire in rotation. Another point raised by the Conference with regard to the Bill was tha proposal to throw the control of charitable aid on the Councils. The Conference would wish the District Boards retained, whereas the Inspector-General, in his annual reports, has again and again shown the evils of the prfs*>nt disjointed system. One delegate at the Conference threw out asuggpttion that the Councils could deal with the charitable aid question satisfactorily if they adopted a system of Committees. This is a proposal that will b^ar careful consideration. The difficulty is to arrange thafc the distribution of aid shall be controlled by a body sensitive to the financial responsibility. The •übject is a difficult one to decide, as indeed is the whole charitable aid problem, but a solution is greatly helped by discussions such as that held in the city laat week. The Conference, we note, was decidedly averse to a system of State fire insurance, although it was enthusiastic in passing a resolution that insurance companies should bear onethird of the cost of maintaining the municipal fire brigades. The resolutions of the Conference are, we understand, to be printed and presented to the Government and members of Parliament. "We would advise all interested in municipal matters to study them carefully. Even those who do not agree with them will do well to discover what are the opinions practical municipal workers have evolved as the result of their own experience. These questions cannot be decided merely on o priori theories. There must be some of the practical rule of thumb work, and that, at the very least, is what is learnt by watching the proceedings of assemblies like the recent Conference.