County Conncils' Conference.

Manawatu Herald, 14 August 1894, Page 2

County Conncils' Conference.

(Wednesday's meeting continued).

Mr Engels moved, " That this Conference is of opinion that all local rates should be levied on the unimproved values ; this rule to be absolute, not optional."

Mr Laird seconded the motion. Mr Lang moved as an amend* meet, " That this Conference is of opinion that local bodies should be given power to levy rates on unimproved values." The amendment was seconded by > Mr Phillips. The President moved, " That in the opinion of this Conference, power should be given the County Councils to levy (in addition to the maximum three-farthing rate) ft— • general rate, not to exceed one-eight of a penny in the pound, for the purpose of creating a fund for the restoration of bridges on the county roads, such fundi to be invested by the councils in the Public Trust funds or other Government securities."

Mr Laird seconded the motion. Mr Kebbell moved as an amendment that the consent of the rate* payers should be first obtained, and that the amount of the rate should be altered to one farthing. Mr Engels seconded the amendment, which was lost.

Mr Bolton proposed that County Councils should be given power to strike a rate of one farthing in the pound for the restoration of bridges. The amendment was seconded by Mr Kebbell, and was lost by the casting vote of the President. The original resolution was then put and lost. The Conference then resumed, and adopted the resolutions passed in committee.

Mr Coleman Phillips read a paper on the subject of the improvement of the system of local government, The consideratisn of the paper was adjourned. The Council then adjourned until next day.

The Conference resumed on Thursday at 10 a.m.

Mr S. Bolton moved, "That clause 131, subsection 15, of the Public Works Bill be amended by the addition of the word ' pigs ' after the word • cattle,' in order to allow pigs to be impounded."

Mr Monkhouse seconded the motion.

Mr Peat, on behalf of Mr Laird, moved, " That the question of adjusting the boundaries of counties, where such adjustment is necessary, from the natural features of the country, be considered by this Cons ference, with a view to "getting this done generally over the Colony." The motion was seconded by Mr Bolton. Mr Collins moved as an amendment, " That Government be tequested, during the recess, to take into consideration the question of adjusting the boundaries of counties and ridings, where such adjustment is necessary, from the aaturalfeatures of the country." This was seconded by Mr Engels, and carried. Mr A. Fovsyth moved, » That in the case oi deferred payment or perpetual lease land being paid for in land scrip the Government be asked to pay thirds to the local bodies, the same as if the land had been paid for in cash." The motion was seconded by Mi* Bolton. Mr H. A. Field moved, " That the Government be asked to introduce a measure providing for the rating of Native lands by county councils and road boards for the purpose and upon the same basis as that obtaining in respect of European lands." Mr Kebbell seconded the -mo^on.' Mr J. R. Sommerville moWdV " That the Government be asked to, make provision in the Public Works Amendment Act, now before the House, for the conveyance of metal on Government railways for use by local bodies at a nominal cost." ~' The motion found a seconder in Mr Kebbell and was earned. Mr Sommerville moved, " Tiafcin all cases of cash purchases -rf foods not fronting roads constructed by the Government previous to sale one-third of the price be dealt with in the same manner as though sold under the lease of perpetuity." Mr Kebbell seconded the motion. Mr Bolton moved as an amend* xnent the following addition— " That where land is leased in perpetuity and a deposit paid for survey fees, and afterwards credited in payment oi rent, one-third of the same shall be handed over to the local body ; in> terested."

Mr Majendie seconded, and the words were added to the resolution, which was then put and carried. Mr McNab moved, ".Thai, to enable county councils to compel all, owners of gorse fences from which gorse has spread over the road to clear such gorse to the full width of the road, section 67 of the -Public Works Amendment Act, 188iJr*6e amended by striking out the words 4 up to the middle line of such road or street ' from subsection 2."

Mr Sommerville seconded the motion, and it was carried.

On the motion of Mr MoNab, seconded by Mr Bolton, it was resolved, " That a clause be added to the Counties Act enabling the county to procure from municipal corporations Buoh information as they may require as in the case or road boards and town boards."

Mr MoNab moved, " That section 26 of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act be repealed." Mr McMillan seconded the motion. Mr McNab moved, "That county

licenses be issued to hawkers for £5 and £2, according to the different classes, and that for the further sums of £2 and 10s respectively these hawkers be allowed to hawk within a borough." Mr Fraser seconded the motion. Mr Fraser moved, " That, with the view of affording immediate relief to local bodies, the Government be requested to amend during the present session of Parliament the Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1885, --Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1885, and Counties Act, 1886, bo as to empower the following thiugs to be done:— (1) That a local body shall be permitted to borrow money under, the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1885, in order to pay off its overdraft; (2) That as soon as any local body shall have paid off its overdraft in the above manner it shall not be lawful for it to incur new liabilities as overdraft which shall at any time exceed the amount of uncollected revenue at that particular date." The motion was seconded by Mr Laird.

Mr Monkhouße moved, "That powers granted to several counties under the Wheel Tax Act, 1893, be extended to all counties."

The motion was seconded by Mr Bolton.

On the motion of Mr Majendie, it was decided that the Government be requested to place the Association on tbe same footing in the matter of privileges as tho Municipal Conference.

The Noxious Weeds Bill was then considered in committee, and a number of amendments were made. The committee resumed, bat the motion for the adoption of the report was lost.

Mr Majendie read a paper on " Disintegration of Counties," the discussion on which was adjourned.

It was decided that a deputation should wait on the Premier at 5.30 this afternoon to lay before him those resolutions requiring immediate attention.

The salary of the secretary was fixed at £20 for the first year. The Conference then adjourned. — N.Z. Times.

A deputation from the County Councils' Conference interviewed the Premier at Parliamentary Buildings on Friday evening. The Premier pointed out that the demand of the Conference that charitable aid should be distributed by tho local body which raised tbe rate would mean the abolition of charitable aid boards. The recommendation that a local body should be permitted to borrow money under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act to pay off its overdraft would involve a very large sum. It would take about three years of the total amount allowed by the Government under that Act. He remarked that the local bodies on the West Coast would be quite pleased with thiß,-for their overdraft- --fl6 U vit<^ ' ,;,:" * oO ' 00( :. *Ie would refer the !H«uter td the Colonial Treasurer. There would be no chance, with the large amount of business now before the House, to bring in legislation with reference to local bodies and the expenses of the Conference. He apprehended that when local government legislation had been put on a satisfactory basis there would be no necessity either for tbe County Council Conference or Municipal Conference. He would recommend Mr Cadman to allow the balance-sheet and report of the proceedings to be printed at the Government Printing Office. The application for free passes on the railways was one for the Commissioners ; but he would tell them that if he had tbe matter in his hands he would not allow the passes. He recommended the Conference to approach the Commissioners on the subject, as tbe muni cipai delegates bad done. The question of allowing County Councils to compel all owners of fences from which gorse had spread to dear the load to its full width would require great consideration. The proposal that hawkers should be required to take out country licenses was worth consideration ; while the request that local bodies should be allowed to take land for gravel pits under tbe Public Works Act was also reasonable. — N.Z. Times.