MUNICIPALITIES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1923, Page 11

MUNICIPALITIES

CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH

REMITS DEALT WITH,

(»T lIItoraPK.—PKESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTOHURCH, 18th July.

The sixteenth biennial Municipal Conference opened with an attendance of thirty delegates, presided over by Mr. J. A. Flesher,. Mayor of Christchurch. A motion of sympathy with the relatives cf the late Sir William Fraser was carried.

' Mr. Flesher, in welcoming the delegates, said ■ it was the first time the conference had been held outside Wellington. He Uffleved it should be annual, and should go round. He referred to the valuable work of th e Canterbury Progress League, which was the envy of. other provinces, and called on the president,' Mr. W. M'Alpine, to welcome the delegates. Mr. M'Alpine outlined the functions of the league, which he said represented 120 bodies, on whose behalf he welcomed the delegates. Responses were made by Mr. Baildon, deputy Mayor of Auckland, and Mr. Tapley, ■Mayor of Dunedin. .

The chairman referred to the need for a new handbook, as the existing oue was five years old. The following remits were carried:— . , .

Mount Albert.—That the law be amended to provide that the entire cost of rolls required by electric, power boards shall be defrayed by the boards.

Dunedin.—Urging an increase of the State contribution to fire boards for the protection afforded to State property, and also fixing the end of the fire brigades' year at 31st March, with demands on the local bodies during March. ■ Mount Albert.—That the Health Act be amended to prevent milk deliveries during the hours of nightsoil collection. ■ Hamilton.—That license fees paid by hotels be reviewed.

Christchurch and six other boroughs.— That the expense of a successful Loan poll be paid out of ths loan moneys. , Masterton, Matamata, Pahiatua Palmerston North, Patea, St. Kilda,' Taihape, Tauranga-, Waipukurau, Wanganui, Westport, and Whangarei.—That the voting at borough elections be similar to that in Parliamentary elections, by striking out the names of the candidates on the voting paper for whom the voter does not intend to vote, instead of placing a cross opposite the names of the candidates for whoni the voter intends to vote, as at present. Dunedin.—That the" Government be asked to expedite the passing of the Motor Vehicles Bill,,providing for Dominion registration of motor vehicles and drivers thereof.

Dunedin.—That the Government be urged to amend the Local Bodies' Loans Act in the direction of (a) State guaranteed 'loans: affording greater assistance to local authorities by devising a scheme for pooling applications for loan money and raising the- sums required on London or any other market by way of a State guarantee loan; (b) compulsory sinking fund: providing,; for a compulsory sinking fund for such' loans, such sinking. fund to be calculated tor extinguish the total loan at or about a period based on the estimated "life" of the plant, material, or works upon which the particular loan money was expended; _(c) that, the foregoing provisions be in addition to and not in substitution for any of the statutory provisions r.t present available to local authorities.

Taumarunui.—That' councillors be paid a reasonable fee for the times occupied on the council's business.

Palmerston North—That local bodies be emj>owerecl to classify any of its workmen who are well on in years and who are iucapable of performing a fair day's work, nnd to pay such workmen a wage commensurate with the amount of .work performed.

- Invercargill.—That owing to the fluctuating of dates of the Easter' holidays, and to the fact that Anzac Day occurs so near the- date fixed for the municipal election, it be a recommendation to the Government to make the said' election fall on the second Wednesday in May, instead of on the last Wednesday in April.

Masterton.—That this council strongly urges the Audit Department to arrange an audit of all municipal body accounts within three months of the end of the financial year, otherwise they be asked to appoint an independent auditor. The following remits were defeated. Foxton.—That fire board contributions be fixed as follow:—lnsurance companies, 60 per cent.; local bodies, 30 per. cent.; and Government. 10 per cent. _ l'ahiatua.—That the Municipal Association obtain legislation to enable it lo provide for municipal officers a fidelity, guarantee fund, such fund to be provid"ed by a levy upon all municipal corporations in the Dominion on the basis of the capital value; all municipal corporations to automatically come under the operation of the Act on the expiry of existing policies, and be reimbursed the amount of the defalcations not recovered; provided "the corporation has laid an' information against the" delinquent officer.

Patea.—That the Motor Eegulation Act, 1908, be amended by altering section 9 so as to place the responsibility of ascertianing the name of the driver of any motor-car that has been' driven recklessly, negligently, or at excessive speed on.any public highway, or that has been driven at a speed exceeding that laid down in any bylaw properly made- by any local authority under the Motor Eegulation Act, on the regis-. tered. owner, not knowing the name of the driver of his car; and' that in the event of the registered owner he be held responsible for any damage, expenses, or fines that may be inflicted as the result of any of the aforesaid offences.