MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 112, 8 April 1927, Page 2

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

CONFERENCE REMITS. PLACED BEFORE PREMIER. WELLINGTON, April 8. Remils passed at the annual conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand were placed before the Prime Minister (lit. Hon. J. G. Coates) by the executive yesterday with a request that the Government would consider amending the law in the direction indicated. The'principal speaker, the Mayor of Nelson (Mr Lock), said the remits passed totalled about 110. The Prime'Minister: Good gracious!

But, added Mr Lock, tire list for presentation to the Government had been reduced to 30. It was only fair to mention that all the remits had not been p issed .unanimously, but a good many of them had. After hearing the representations, the Prime' Minister said that some of the. .points were very important from the vieei point of local administration ; but ti ere were always two sides to the question. The Government had no interest other , than the public interests. “We know the important work you dc, and you receive no thanks'for it,” aided Mr'Coatee.. “It is with' groat pleasure that I will ask the Ministers concerned to apply themselves- to the problems raised to ascertain how far they ;can go to assist you. They will leid a sympathetic ear, and, I am suro, give a right decision.” The Prime Minisler said he believed in the policy of decentralisation, and if it were possible x) get the local bodies to take some of the kicks the general Government received he would bo quite willing to give the authority which would enable municipal . government, to receive tl ose kicks, (Laughter.)