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LOCAL BODY INTERESTS

TAT?AN AKI ASSOCIATION. QU ARTERiLY ASSEJTBLY. Almost a full attendance of delegates assembled at the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association at Eltham yesterday. The members present were Messrs J. S. Connett (chairman), J. B. Murdoch (Hawera), E. Long and E. Mourie (Wairnate West), A. L. Campbell (Eltham), W. C. Green (Egmont), H. C. Taylor (Stratford), R. Stuart and S. Judd (Inglewood), H. Foreman (Clifton), N. R. Cleland (Whangamomona). J. Brown (New Plymouth Borough), A. Kemp (Eltham Borough), A. R. Bates and W. Marr (Kaponga Town Board). Apologies were receivc*cl from Mr T. R. --Y ridel's on. C®fcratford County) and the Mayors of New Plymouth arid Stratford. AUDIT FEES. A reply was received from the deputy-Auditor-General in regard to , the association’s request for a 20 per cent reduction in audit fees. It was pointed out that the scale of fees had been fixed by Order-in-Council and there was no power to make reduction in the scale. The department considered the scale of fees was reasonable and was a good deal less than the scale of the Accountants’ Society. The department’s charge of £3 3s was inclusive of travelling expenses, whereas the rate fixed by the society was £7 7« per day. Mr Brown and Mr Kemp criticised the decision. Mr Campbell said they hatl no redress in the matter. Mr Green said Government auditors generally stayed at one place for a week or more. This was quite different from the usual experience of a private auditor, who might have to travel 20 or 30 miles for a single day’s audit. Mr Bates: The auditors do not receive a large salary. Mr Tri strain suggested that any! •surplus went into the Consolidated Fund. Mr Brown : There is no reduction in taxation as a result. Mr Cleland said he understood the c harge was less if the work was done by a junior officer. It was resolved to send a reply to the Minister urging that, in the opinion of the association, the audit fees were excessive. PETROL TAXATION. A remit was received from the Egmont County Council “that a very strong protest against the increase in the petrol tax, as being unreasonable and unduly increasing the cost of transport, be made.” _ The remit was introduced by MiGreen, who said that there was no doubt the position was very serious and the increase unreasonable. The chairman referred to the decision of the Government to make a rebate of a penny pending negotiations with the companies. Mr Long said that in his opinion the penny rebate was not enough and the move would defeat its own object. He considered tliev would not get the revenue they would if matters were left as they are. It would be better lor the county and better for the in- 1 dividual. He referred to the new scheme of importing of benzine, supposed to be Russian, and said the price would Ik- governed by the price on the open market. That would be the basis of the price fixation. ; Mi- Bates: They would be on the same footing. Mr Long: Is it going to last? j 1 On the motion of Mr Green it was - agreed to hold the matter over to see what the Government intended to do. MODEL BY-LAWS. | I lit- chairman said that some years! ago the local bodies appeared to ap-j prove of a proposal to have model j by-laws for all, but the position had! changed and now there was opposition and many wished to rescind the proposal Apparently there wAs nothing i to do but to let the plan drop. I '■ The secretary reported that Egmont would not support model by-laws nilless all were agreed and the Hawera and Clifton were definitely opposed. (

Mr. Green added that the position was that motor regulations so overrode by-laws that lie would he afraid to go ahead with them. He referred to the ridiculously low speed limits in certain areas, and added that prosecutions for a breach might he taken under regulations or by-laws. Mr. Murdoch said his council did not think the by-laws worth the extra cost, because they might- be obsolete . in two years. On iris motion tseconded by Mr. [ Long, it was' decided to do nothing further in regard to by-laws. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES. L The chairman said that, with a > member of the association, he had ' waited on the Waitara and Inglewood Borough Councils and had put the •case with respect to heavy traffic fees. In the former case there appeared to be some opposition to the proposed allocation, but in the latter case, a very favourable reception was accorded the deputation and he hoped the discussion would bear fruit. He .hoped to have reports m time for the next meeting. It was>agreed that the system ol allocation of heavy traffic fees be the same as in the previous year. ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS. The question of the best method of giving assistance to the farming, community was discussed following the reecipt of a remit from the Egmont Council on the subject. Mr. Green said the remit wfls to have been introduced by Mr J. S. Tosland, but 'he was not present. Mr. Green considered that the Local Bodies’ Association was the best body to convene a public meeting of producers. It was a very hi,/ question and every association had” discussed the matter and the Government »was out to see what it could do if it was thought a scheme was necessary. He suggested that the matter he held over so as to give Mr. Tosland an opportunity of putting, his views on the subject. Mr. Long: The Farmers’ Union is the best body to take action. Th e chairman said that had the Egmont Council known the exchange was to be raised, it might not have brought the matter forward and probably would rather have waited to see what were the Government proposals and the complete programme. The suggestion to hold the matter over was approved. Mr Taylor said the rebate of rates ivas being discussed and might eventuate. Mr. Bates said that all were interested in the proposal to benefit the • farmers, but considered that it would be better to do good to the whole 1 community. 1 He referred to the Douglas Social 1 Credit Scheme and said it had been 1 before the world for fourteen years and would, in his opinion, be a'living force. It had grown tremendously in Australia and was spreading m New Zealand among men of all classes. He considered there was a tendency to i think only of one section of the com- < munitv and urged that the basing of . legislation and taxation in New Zou- ( land, on a theory of scarcity, was wrong. He hoped there would bo a ( teport availably at an onrlv date. HEALTH INSPECTION. < 'The Minister of Health replied to > the association’s resolution urging, a : reduction in the expense of health in- ; spection. The Minister wrote to sa.y 1 that, with reference to contributions to salary and expenses of health in- ,« spectors it was agreed last year to | ntakie an all-round .reduction of 10 ( per cent, in local body contribution's. j The present position in Taranaki was that rthe department was rerroving , slightly less than two-thirds of the j cost of the service whereas it ought f to recover at least that proportion. , In many cases local bodies had taken j over the whole of the •responsibility. , but as the present arrangement was 1 satisfactory to the department, it was not suggested that local bodies should 1 appoint their own inspectors. }

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HAWST19330228.2.89

Bibliographic details

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 February 1933, Page 8

Word Count
1,269

LOCAL BODY INTERESTS Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 February 1933, Page 8

LOCAL BODY INTERESTS Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 February 1933, Page 8