Municipal Matters

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 8

Municipal Matters

OFFICERS FOR ENSUING YEAR. Per Press Association. TIMARU, Last Night. Mr T. Jordan (Masterton) was unanimously re-elected president of the New Zealand Municipal Association at the conclusion of the conference at Timaru to-day. The delegates joined in glowing tributes to Mr Jordan's popularity and ability as the association’s principal executive and to his steadfastness and determination and the expedition with which he had dealt with the association's business. The other officers chosen were: Vicepresidents, the Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and New Plymouth; executive, the Mayors of Napier, Lower Hutt, tjumuer, Ashburton, H&wera, and Wairoa and the chairmen of the Auckland Transport Board and Papatoetoe and Otautau Town Boards. New Plymouth was selected as the venue of the next conference after invitations had been considered from New Plymouth, Rotorua, Auckland and Palmerston North.

The annual conferenco of the New Zealand Municipal Electric .Supply Association was held to-day. The remits were nearly all those which had been passed at the previous conference.

The election of officers resulted: President, Mr C. O. Morse (Napier); vicepresidents, Messrs M. E. Lyons (Christchurch), and, A. E. Mansford (Palmerston North); executive, Messrs J. Miller (Invercargill), W. Appleton (Wellington), P. Stainton (New Plymouth), J. Fraser (Rangiora), H. L. Harker (Wairoa) and C. Grange (Thames). DECISIONS AT CONFERENCE. Per Press Association. TIMARU, March 10 A. comprehensive agenda of 103 remiu, covering practically all phases of civie administration, was presentee to deiegates at the first business session of the New Zealand Municipal Association Conference at Timaru to-day. Thu president of the association, Mr. T. Jordan (Masterton; occupied the chair. The annual report covered a wide ran go of subjects, including the industrial activity resulting from legislation and the proposed amalgamation of local bodies. The balance sheet shewed an excess of expenditure over income ol £33. Progress was made during the day, the main agenda of remits being completed. lour remits were advanced by tho Timaru borough calculated to overcome difficulties, such as those that confronted the returning officer last June when, consequent upon the death of the former Mayor, two condidates entcreu the campaign for the vacancy and one withdrew within seven days of the election, thus creating a delicate legal position. The conference passed a remit declaring such a vacancy an extraordinary vacancy.

The conference endorsed the principle contained in an Auckland remit that local body officers should have the right to appeal to a statutory board of appeal. The provision of legislation to permit local bodies to require subdividing owners to permanently form and seal to the council's satisfaction any right-of-way or pathway to a section without a frontage to a dedicated road was •ought in a Devonport remit which was samed. The conference referred to tho executive to discuss with the Minister foi Finance a remit from Auckland dealing with an amendment to the definition ui "rateable property” in the liating Ac. tnd the Municipal Corporations Act, to that a local body would have power fi rate owners of premises which wers leased partially or wholly to the Crown, An amendment of section 09 of the Bating Act to provide for no remission of rates where the owner had not made an effort to let the property at a reasonable rental was sought in a Mt. hiden remit which was carried, Tauranga succeeded in securing support for a remit that the Government be asked not to interfere in the control of electrical supply unless a particular supply authority proved to be incapable of conducting its supply. A Motucka remit carried vras that it be a recommendation to the conference that a clause be inserted in the Local Bodies Amalgamation Bill that no borough be amalgamated with a county without a referendum of the people. I | The conference agreed to seek tho representation of boroughs on Districtl Highways Councils. '.