PROTEST AND REMITS

Grey River Argus, 22 March 1935, Page 5

PROTEST AND REMITS

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE Various Decisions (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Alarch 21. At the Alunicipal Conference, a tele gram was sent by Air. D. G. Sullivan M.P.. the President, at the unaniniou: request of the Conference, to protes to the Government against the non payment of rates by the Governmen' Departments, that are concerned will jmortgage lands of which these Depart merits had taken possession. The Conference declared that th' local bodies were the victims of : grave injustice, of which they shoulc be relieved.

The telegram was sent to the Prime Alinister, the Minister of Finance, an< the Leader of the Opposition. Tt was decided that representations be made to the Government asking for the stricter control of Alsatian dogs, oi for legislation forbidding them kept in the dominion. The principle of a national scheme of health insurance was approved by the Conference. Details of a scheme were not discussed, because of representations that the Hospital Boards’ Association had a scheme under consideration, and was seeking support for it.

A suggestion that the Alunicipal and County elections should be held on th» same day, and that the day should be the second Wednesday in May, trien nially, was approved. The Conference refused to adopt a suggestion that the Government should make a rebate to all ratepayers, as has been done to County ratepayers on two occasions.

A remit was passede. however, urging the Government, when considering any future relief to County ratepayers, to take into consideration the position of the ratepayers in cities and boroughs and town districts.

Remits urging the setting up of a Royal Commission to enquire into all local body administration were carried, after a. brief discussion.

Tt. was argued that municipalities as well as rural local bodies should be within the sphere of the enquiry.

A scheme for the provision of earthquake insurance by a national scheme, such as was submitted in Air. Barnard’s Bill of last year, was approved. Several delegates spoke in support of a remit declaring that the conference viewed with alarm the number of advertising hoardings throughout the countryside, and. suggesting that all zbcal bodies frame by-laws restricting the erection of them. Tt was unanimously decided that the Government be requested to make it compulsory for all push bicycles to ,have the rear mudguard painted with aluminium or other luminous paint. The following remit was carried:— That the Government be requested to apply a tuberculin test periodically to all cows producing milk for city and town consumption.