CITY COUNCILLORS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 July 1923, Page 3

CITY COUNCILLORS

IHfiHT TO PAYMENT AND FKEK TRANSPORT

(United Press Association) 1

CM R fSTCH I'IKJH, July 21. A remit was adopted by the Municipal Conference to-night sanctioning a fee o(,t exceeding one guinea in respect of each meeting of the council or a committee attended bv a councillor, such fees not. to exceed £54 12s during any one

vear. The subject of providing tree means id' transport for councillors who were kept late at meetings and had to walk was also considered. Mr 11. f). Bennett (Wellington) moved: "that members ot < oniicils attending meetings that sit to a late hour of Hie evening be conveyed 1( , t heir homes at the council’s expense where no public means of transport are avniistble.’ Mi Bennett stated that quite oltea councillors were not able, to dispose ot their general and special business until ■i kit ("hour. Some of the councillors consequent!v missed the usual methods ~f conveyance to their homes and were forced to walk considerable distances. The chairman (Mr •). J■ klesherj stated that already correspondence had taken place on the matter between Wellimrton and Auckland. The solicitor for tin” Auckland Citv Council had consequently drafted three clauses amending the Municipal Corporations Act. the first „f these would give councillors ana other persons power to travel without payment on any tramway or has service ; the second would give a council power m hire means of convey a nee to convey members of the council to their homes; and the third would provide for the recaption of and attention to such suitable micsts or visitors as the Mayor or council thought fit to .entertain. The amendments of the Act drawn up bv the Auckland City Solicitor were adopted to replace the original remit, and llie first clause of the amendment regarding provision of free passage on tramways or bus survives was carrie 1. Mm principle of the second clause relating to hire of conveyances to convey them to their homes after late meetings was approved, and the third clause was also approved.