COUNTIES CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1928, Page 12

COUNTIES CONFERENCE

GREY DELEGATES’ REPORT.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Grey County Council, Cr J. Ryall and Mr M. Keating (County Clerk), who were delegates to the Counties’ Conference, held recently in Wellington, presented the following full and interesting report : — Your delegates beg to report that they attended the biennial Conference of New Zealand Counties, which was held at Wellington on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 23 and 24. The Conference was a most representative one, practically every County in the Dominion being represented. The order paper was very lengthy, the Conference disposing of 131 remits, which covered every phase of local government. One of the most important matters as affecting the Grey district was the question of hospital finance. It was urged by various delegates that the present system of levying on local authorities was unjust, and that a more equitable system of rating would be partly on a population, basis and partly on a valuation basis. The Conference President (Mr .Tull), in submitting the decision to the Hon. Minister, pointed out that County Councils had laboured under a grave disability for many years. Population, was taken into account in arriving at the representation of local authorities on Hospital Boards', but the levy was based on the capital value alone. It was time that was done to relieve the burden which was placed on people, in rural areas. It was also suggested to the Minister of Health that a Conference of Boroughs, Counties and Hospital Boards be called, to go into the whole question of hospital finance. Dealing with the question of hospital levies, the Prime Minister stated that the present system might appear inequitable, but it had been in operation for a long time, and a change in the system would present difficulties. The Minister of Health agreed that the suggested conference might- have a beneficial effect, and he would give the matter consideration. It was possible that improvements in the levy system could be effected. He was strongly opposed to any system of nationalisation of hospital finance. The Conference affirmed the principle that riding accounts should be abolished, and also that increased subsidy sholud be paid' on general rates. A ■ large number of remits dealing with main highway legislation were presented, and an interesting, discussion on various phases of main highway control and maintenance ensued. The President, i nsumming up the debate, said that the discussion had proved very useful. There was no doubt that the user should pay. One suggestion that the main highways be nationalised was defeated by a large majority. The Prime Minister, in replying to the Conference, said that originally the subsidy paid by the Board was £ for £. It had been increased to 30s in the £, and the Board now proposed to increase the subsidy to £2 for £1 for maintenance. A remit asking that auctioneers’ licenses be taken out where the sales are conducted was also passed, whilst a special committee was set up to go into the matter of travelling expenses payable to members. Another* remit amending the Finance Act, 1926, so as to render hewn sleepers and mining props liable for the levy on timber was also adopted. The President, touching on a matter of importance to the Conference, stated inter alia : ‘ ‘There is one other matter upon which the Conference might give some attention ; that is, whether the District Highways Council cannot be made greater use of in connection with our highway administration. Some District Councils are active, some are, I am afraid, rather perfunctory, probably because of their limited functions. Will the Conference set up a committee to consider what alterations might advantageously be made in District Councils’ functions? Could such a body.of County representatives be asked to consider such matters as the amalgamation in some cases of some of the counties within their group, the power, say, of engaging an engineer specially qualified to deal with the highways for such a group of counties, or could ft be asked to act as a mediating body when riding finance or boundaries sometimes raised domestic inequalities in a county? <We have eighteen highway districts. The councils are composed of experienced men, and any well-con-sidered recommendation from such a body would, I am sure, be of value.”

Your delegates also interviewed the Hon. the Minister of Lands and the Hjn. Minister of Public Works, with reference to various maters. The Hon. the Minister of Public Works, in reply to a request for a vote of £lOOO for the extension of Bell Hill-Haupiri Road, stated that he would go into the matter fully when the estimates' - were being prepared. Cr Ryall advocated periodical conferences between West Coast County Councils, with a view of adjusting matters of common interest more expeditiously. This was done with advantage in other parts of New Zealand, and he could see beneficial results accruing from such conferences on the West Coast. On the motion of Cr Carter, seconded by Cr Irvine, it was resolved to consult the other West Coast Counties regarding holding conferences once or -

twice yearly. A vote 'of thanks was accorded the delegates for therr report.