LOCAL BODIES’ ASSOCIATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 January 1927, Page 4

LOCAL BODIES’ ASSOCIATION.

DISCUSSION ON TRAFFIC FEES. At a. meeting (in committee) of thc-exec-utive committee of the Taranaki bocal Bodies’ Association, held at Eltham yesterday, it was resolved to forward to the local bodies concerned the following letter, signed by the secretary, Mr W. J. Tristram, embodying a resolution which will come up for discussion, at a meeting of the association to be held at Eltham on February 23:

At the- last meeting of this association the executive committee's recommendation as to allocation of fees for 1927-1928 was, together with an amendment from the Stratford Borough Council, referred hack to the executive for further consideration aud report to next general meeting. The executive committee met to-day and fully considered and discussed both systems. Although the various local bodies of the area had been asked for fchiir respective opinions on both sehemese. some have not yet replied. Of the various replies 'received some favour the- present system of distribution, i.e.. on the 50 per cent- capital value and 50 per cent, mileage basis. The question, put to the local authorities was whether they favoured the committee’s leoommendation as contain, -d in the meeting of October 29 last, or the Stratford Borough. Council’s amendment as set out in the .same minutes of which von have already been supplied with a copy. At to-day’s meeting the following resolution was passed: “That local authorities be: advised that the present scheme of distribution, will not be accepted for vear 19271928, and if insisted upon by a majority, the matter will lie taken before n magistrate. Under the circumstances, the local authorities grouped under the Stratford Porough nroposal are asked to confer with a view to arriving at, a mutual arrangement for the distribution of Ues under that scheme, or alternatively to ,oive their opinion a® between the Stratford scheme and the scheme submitted hv the executive ; local authorities to advise their decision to the executive on or before February 19, 1927, in order to enable the executive to consider the position fully and to report to general meeting of association. on February 23, 1927.” Mr Skoglund’s amendment, briefly, is that each county council with its own contained borough or separate town district should apportion the fees rejected hv them by mutual arrangement. The object of the committee’s resolution is that each such borough (or separate town board) and county should confer with a view to arriving, or endenyourino- to arrive, at a satisfactory agreement for the apportionment of the fees collected within tlieir boundaries. T would therefore thank von to arrange for such a conference, and to let me have vour council’s report’on result not later +hnu the date mentioned, in til? resolution, namely. 19th proximo, as it is essential that the committee report fully to next meeting, with a view to reachirm finality.

The E’tham junior corps of the Salvation 'Army held their annual Sunday School picnic tab Opunake yesterday. About 250 scholars and adults, including the Boys Home, inmate® am] stall, attended. The corps’ band was also present and played a, programme of music. D'nring the afternoon the members of the Opunake life Saving Club gave a display, which proved instructive to those assembled on the beach. A fair number of TTawcra residents drawn by (lie annonncement that the Municipal Band would play a selected programme of dance music, and. also perhaps to some extent by the wonderfully fine evening, were at the Far': last night and obeyed the enll of the famous musical comedy to “listen to the band.” The band certainly was in great playing form, and the grades of expression and tone were very marked and drew much 'favourable comment. The conductor (Mr Fox) had them under excellent control. The practice for the quickstep was most satisfactory, and with thy remaining few weeks’ work, the band should be at the top of its form by the date of the contest in Wellington.