LOCAL BODIES’ ASSOCIATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 September 1924, Page 8

LOCAL BODIES’ ASSOCIATION.

CONFERENCE AT ELTHAM

IMPORTANT MEASURES DIS-

CUSSED

A conference of delegates from local bodies coming within the membership of the Taranaki Local Bodies Association, was held at Eltlmm yesterday. Mr. C. J. Belcher, chairman of the Eltham County Council and chairman of the Taranaki Local Bodies Association presided, and there were also prsent: Messrs. J. B. Murdoch (Hawera Countv Council), E. Long (M aims te West County Council). C. E. McGr.inness (Eltham County Council), G. W Tavler and J. Campbell (Eltham BoVough Council), W. C. Green and E. A. Collins (Egmont County Council), S Vickers (Taranaki County Council), C: Clarke, B. Stewart and A. Lawrence (Inglewood Countv Council V W. C. Clement (Eltham Drainage Board; and E. Walters (Stratford County Council). The chairman, at the outset, said there were many important matters affecting this province which were at present before the House, and it was therefore necessarv that Taranaki representatives should give an expression of opinion on these questions.

MOTOR VEHICLES BILL. The - proposed Motor Vehicles Bill was first discussed. The association's solicitor. Mr. J. L. Weir, said tie took it that the Government’s object in forwarding the proposed Bill to them, was to. give the association a chance of objecting or sn<?<restinsr any new clauses whifch with advantage be incorporated. “Did the association agree .with the orineiple of the Bill as hmim in the interests of the general public?” Mr. - Murdoch said it was apparent that the bringing forward of such a Bill was very necessary. The principle was a good one in that it brought the motor vehicles of the country under some proper control. He moved that the delegates approve of the principle of the Bill. Mr. Vickers seconded, and the motion was carried. The association’s solicitor then read the Bill clause by clause, and supplied delegates with information thereon. Mr. Stewart asked why there should be. any necessity, if the Bill were passed, for motorists already having registered, numbers to be put to the expense of obtaining new numbers.

Mr. Weir said he took it that it would he necessary for the new registration to be put into force all over the country at the same time, in which event it would be necessary to avoid any confusion. It was decided to draw the attention of the Minister to a technicality in the wording of clause 17 concerning the change of ownership. In connection with the licensing of drivers the clause providing that persons under the age of 15 years should not be allowed to hold a license was questioned, but the matter was let drop, it being understood that discretionary powers would be exercised by the inspector.

Mr. Green considered that the provision making it illegal for a driver to drive without having his license in his possession was too stringent. A couple of days should be given drivers in which to present their licenses. The provision requiring a driver’s license which--expired on March 31 to be renewed the following day was questioned, delegates pointing out that in countiT districts it might not be possible for a driver to get into town on the following day. l —lt was decided to recommend that 14 da vs’ grace he given.

On the motion of Mr. Stewart, it was decided to recommend that the collection, of registration fees be made, by the local authority in whose territory the applicant resided.' It was out that in its present form the Bill allowed of a person taking out a license in any part of New Zealand.

1 here was some discussion on' the clause, which provded that in the case c f/ 1 accident it would be the duty ot the driver of the motor vehicle to report the accident to the police fw u° n J ere,,ce . decided to recommend tnat both parties concerned in the accident be xequired to report, as the driver of the motor vehicle might not be the one to blame, and also might not report. “ S6 '' er6ly that l,e co,ild ,^ c^ers asked if any recommendation could be made restricting the use ot spot-lights s sbm,n ] Veir said he felt that there should be some provision prohibiting , e n ,{ nrer (,f one car from approaching another car with his spot-light bur® > w S by the secretary (Mr. W J. Inst ram) that if a driver „i * , J t did not cast a beam straight thf r auuid; al if h \ ll t i ,ou^ th !‘) ron ! Automobile Assoeiallo,, that b«lv irf'question de,li "* "' itl > the |tr« x s wle »L n r'S:f V*’ V hat !t "°«ld toV rev'. S ?hi r °exte,?t e tT°whi S b T Portion road " lllch he Uf *d the Mr. Murdoch said he inn , against the schedule and 1,1 ° va l that the tax he Cl f, moved flnrl no r )0 for a private car Mr Pre r ° ar for hire Mr. Green seconded. .Mr. Long thought that such Q ~ vision would not meet the ca«e otl'i 0 ” owner of the vehicle nh i.L r as , the 'vould only pass it on 1 j;’’' * sengers. 10 ,116 pasCou. , ,tv V Cmmeirim I l‘''f tIK Principle of a car li,.Sr 6 !,, 6 ’*/ 1 ' 6 "harped »**?£?£* ™ *• always on the road Thev lc Inan sidered that the f.,„ , ine y also conto tax onZe ZJZZZK Tf y wou]d be Mr. Wei, he ! :S '? ai ™™f‘'>red i„ New the Customs ‘S* a ‘ ate that source of revenue “T" .provided for the „ The Act at the Customs office. ° ” lg ° f tbe tax •shol e o? o hMd s "' a t h e -,, vj ti^ ri j ed 0,1 a for and five against. ° tlng bein S six tb? ™to^ tr Xr n T7i n i tl,at dneed from £3 to £i s 1011 d be re- ■£.• »* whole schedule “m the. not ca leu bated to nmef- C + u ? l^ e a . ,icl of the Bill Jf +i lp y r - nitention that the Bill should 4,,l 4.4. I,l,c ' mlc<l »f taxi no motm 'is s ' V nra 6 f be c extent the,, used hTST?#

seconded by Mr Murdoch, it was* decided “That the attention of the Minister be drawn to the schedule, in view of the fact that it was inconclusive and inconsistent with the princiole of the Bill.” REVALUATION OF COUNTIES. The chairman mentioned that about two years ago> he and Mr Murdoch saw Mr Flanagan, the Valuer-General, in Wellington relative to a revaluation of the Eltham, Rawer a, and Waimate West Counties, peak prices having been ruling when these counties were last valued. Mr Flanagan had realised that the counties concerned were suffering an injustice, and he had practically promised to see that a new valuation was made. However, the revaluation had not been made, and a number of ratepayers in the county had now obtained private revaluations, with the result that their reductions had meant heavier rates for the men who had not applied. Also, in view of the special rate recently struck by the Hospital Board it was necessary that everyone should be on the same footing.

Mr Murdoch said he had seen the Prime Minister recently, and had informed him that large landholders had been obtaining private revaluations, and so making it harder for the small tnan. At the present time there were live large landholders in the Hawera County who were obtaining private revaluations, and it was anticipated that thev would obtain reductions amounting in all to between £25.000 and £30,000. The Premier had replied that that certainly was not the intention cf the Act, and he had said that the best thing was to have a revaluation right away. Mr Murdoch also gave an instance of a. farm in the Ha.wera County the Government valuation of which was £B2. and which was recently sold for £7l oer acre.

Mr Weir said he knew of two farms which were valued for mortgage purposes at less than the Government valuation. There was only one valuing officer in Taranaki whose district extended as far as the Main Trunk, and in addition to his valuing work he had been instructed to act on various commissions. There were capable valuers in the province, and there was nothing re prevent the Government ing some of these and getting the counties revalued in a short time. The names of the Eltham, Waimate West. Hawera, Stratford and Egmont counties were then taken as counties requiring revaluation.

HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENSES. The matter of heavy traffic, licenses was referred to by Mr Murdoch, who, ni pointing out that the owner of a lorry had to take out a license in each county which he entered, said he ..anted to see more uniformity. If a lorry worked foar-fifths of its time in the Eltham County and one-fifth in the ilawera County, the license fee should Le divided between the two counties in that proportion. Under the present conditions,- it was nc.t the owner of the lorry who eventually paid the license lacs, but the producer, to whom, the extra cost was handed on. The Main iiigiiwavs Board was moving in the direction desired; but in .case nothing resulted from that proposal it would be just as well to keep the matter under observation. DRAINAGE LOANS. Mr W. C. Clement mentioned two settlers who wanted to raise a loan to clra-w water off their properties. Some time ago an. amendment to the Act had been passed, making it compulsory to raise a riding loan. The members cf the Eltham ,Drainage Board had asked Mr Hawken to see if a further clause could be inserted in the Washing Up Bill in order to place drainage boards on the, same footing as county councils in respect of raising leans, but he would like to hav-c* the support of the conference on the question.-—lt was decided to support the Drainage Board, in the matter.

The conference decided that representatives from each council should shortly proceed to Wellington to, interview the Government authorities in connection with, the Motor Vehicles Bill, heavy traffic regulations and revaluation. ’

The conference then closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.