COUNTY COUNCILS.

Lake County Press, Issue 2391, 31 August 1911, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCILS.

Important Resolutions

At the County Councils’ Conference, held in Wellington last week, Mr W. Fraser, on behalf of the Lake County Council, moved, “That all bodies should be classified in order of (1) their requirements for assistance in forming and maintaining roads, (2) the annual rate in the £ levied by them, (3) the area of Crown or native lands comprised therein, which yields little and in some instances no rates, yet necessitates expenditure in forming and maintaining roads that run through such areas ; and that the Government subsidy to be paid to each such class of local bodies should be based on these three factors.” It was decided that the whole of the remits dealing with classification be referred to a committee consisting of the chairman and four members from each Island.

Several motions dealing with auctioneers’ license fees were brought forward, but were withdrawn and an amendment was carried that all license fees be paid to the hospital and charitable aid boards.

The following motions were carried : “ That in counties where water-race systems prevail no subdivision of counties shall take place except on a petition of the majority of ratepayers within the existing county.”

“ That the Government should not agree to so many new counties being constituted; but that fair areas of counties should prevail, having in view community of interests ; boundaries to be adjusted to suit such interests and geographical features.” “ That in future no new county be formed where road boards exist, unless of a rateable value of (say) two million pounds.”

“That section 15 of the Act be amended to enable a newly-constituted county to borrow to pay off a liability taken over from the other county or counties,”

“ That powers be given to councils of boroughs, town councils and counties, whose boundaries are contiguous, to alter such boundaries by mutual consent in the same manner as the councils of two adjacent counties are empowered to amend county boundaries.” “ That the Act be made more clear on the question of the voting power where the system of rating on unimproved value obtains.” “ That this Council protests against any alteration of the county franchise that would deprive ratepayers of their present voting power or extend the franchise to non-ratepayers.” “ That the Government be urgently requested to amend the procedure for the compilation of country rolls, so ihafc the name, occupation, address and qualification of every elector shall bo fully set forth, and by such information prevent fraud and misrepresentation.” “That sections 4!J and 52 he amended so as to allow the rolls to be altered within 21 days of the election.” Several questions in connection with the elections and the franchise were considered and it was decided to urgently request the Government to amend the procedure for the compilation of county rolls so that the name, occupation, address, and qualification of every elector shall to fully sot forth

and by such information prevent fraud and misrepresentation, the method o compiling the county electors’ rolls to be altered so as to do away with the necessity of going before a magistrate.

Tiie Conference also resolved, “ That the Counties Act bo amended so as to allow travelling expenses to county councillors being paid whenever travelling on council business also to pay the chairman an honorarium in lieu of travelling expenses."