County Council's Conference.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7900, 28 July 1904, Page 7

County Council's Conference.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, ,) u l y 07 The County Council's conference was resumed this mornin^. Mr Buchanan (Wiararapa) moved to the effect that Parliament should relieve local bodies from the excessive demands made by charitable institutions where local bodies have no representation on the Boards of such institutions. This was carried by 26 to IS.

•,ft ( was raso',ved that it i s desirable to abolish the cumbrous and expens-ive system of obtaining- and advertising special orders u„der the Loans to Local Bodies' Act.

Resolutions were agreed to a^ follows :—That the Government be requested to carry road and brido- e material on railways at bare cost and make better provision for the supply of ballast trucks ; That the Government be requested to take the. necessary steps to simplify works returns required by the Department of Roads ; That machinery, etc., b e a dm,lUf* . tV«6 to lceal authorities; mat tins Conference desires to draw the attention of the Government'to tlie tact that the Government lines ol" road are not infrequently handed over to local authorities, in a serious state of disrepair/ necessitating a large immediate outlay on the part of such authorities, thereby imposing npon them an expenditure which they can often ill afford bear, and which they ought not to be called upon to undertake; Tnat the Government he requested to amend the Public Works. Act by pacing "as-a' schedule thereto a set of bye-laws for the regulation of traffic on roads, and for the,licensing and., the regulation of the speed ol vehicles, including motor cars and bicycles, which may be adopted by special order in their entirety, or any portion thereof, by an individual County; That all the Government, grants made on tho £ for £ basis carry with them the night to borrow a sum equal to the said grants, whether or not ihe limit of borrowing power had been reached by the local body to which such grants are made; That the Government bo urged to authorise the expenditure of all grants, voted for roads, as soon as possible • after tho session expires, even if the amounts are not paid over until March 31st ; That the Government be requested to amend section 5 of the Counties Act, 1903, to allow Councils to overdraw temporarily against special rates in outlying districts., or to. advance any such sums out of the general account and refund from separate, account when funds permit ; That the Audit Department _be requested to endeavour to obtain a Universal systematic style of keeping books, accounts and balance-sheets throughout' tho Counties of New Zealand.; That the Government Valuation of Land Act be amended to provide ..that..;where -. revision of roll is 'made''the same facilities 'be given for inspection of the roll and objections thereto as wore provided by the Rating Act, 1894: That section 2 of the Counties Act, 11)03, providing that no alterations of any boundaries shall take eftc-A umtdl the close of the next following financial year, be amended to allow of such alteration taking effect so far as they relate to tho alteration of representation ; That whenever in any County, road districts having three-fourths of tho value of such County aro merged, such County may by special order merge the remaining Road Boards of such County. „