CONFERENCE OF NORTHERN COUNTY COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9491, 21 April 1894, Page 3

CONFERENCE OF NORTHERN COUNTY COUNCILS.

[from our own CORRESPONDENT.] Whangarei, Thursday. Subjoined is a continuation of the report of the proceedings of the Conference :— CHARITABLE AID. Mr. Harding thought it was quite necessary to do away with the Charitable Aid Act at once. He quoted several instances of ablebodied men throwing away money and then throwing themselves on the Board. ; Mr. Press spoke at some length in the same strain. Mr. Isbister said he thought each county should keep its own poor, without having to subscribe to those of other counties. He could cite many instances of people deserving charitable aid, and also many cases of imposition. Mr. Minchin thought the Acts should be repealed, but that the Conference should suggest the form the new Act should takb. The motion for the repeal of the Act in the coming session on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. Mr.. Mason moved, "That further consideration of the subject of charitable aid be postponed." re-construction of land boards. Mr. Press said the re-construction was not so important as the individual dealing with lands. In Canada the system Was much better than here. If one went to the office he was referred to a local man, who showed him over the land the applicant wished to see and fjave all the information in connection with it. If the applicant decided to settle on any particular piece the title was at once given. Mr. Harding moved, " That in the opinion of this Conference the administration of Land Boards be in the hands of the County Councils, and that the powers at present exercised by the Laud Board be transferred to the County Council." Mr. Mason seconded the motion. Messrs. Gubb, Ariel, Minchin, and Mason all spoke on the subject. Mr. Thompson, speaking on behalf of tlje Land Board, said the Conference was saddling the wrong horse. The reason for the delay in settlement was caused through the Government not providing money for survey purposes. The motion on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. • COUNTIES VEHICLES LICENSING ACT, 1893. Mr. Gubb moved, " That in the_ opinion of this Conference the Counties Vehicle Licensing Act does not meet the requirements of the Northern counties." Seconded by Mr. Press. Mr. McKenzik said that the previous vehicle tax was not successful, and did not meet the requirements. He thought the county by-laws should be made by the Government. Mr. Gubb would like it mentioned that it would not affect his County (Rodney), as they hud 110 roads to carry vehicles, and had to use sledges. He therefore considered it was a ridiculous measure, and would like to get the roads first. Mr. Mason was not prepared to say if his County would be willing to use the Act. He objected to the Act for its special character, and also as being given to the North as stone when they asked for bread. Mr. Press said the Vehicle Act was being put into force in his County, but it was not because they liked it, but because they were compelled Co adopt it, and he for one would be glad to get rid of it. Mr. Kerr had been opposed to the principle of this Act all along. It was burdensome, and was never asked for by the people. The small settlers were dead against it. The motion was then put to the meeting, and carried. MAIN NORTH ROAD. Mr. Mason moved, "That it is the duty of the Government to maintain the Great North Road until some definite and settled form of grant is established." Mr. Press seconded the motion. _Mr. Mason spoke to the effect that in the North the Great North Road practically took the place of a railway, and considering the nature of the traffic, being mainly gum and sometimes coal, he thought they were justly entitled to ask the Government to deal exceptionally with the road. Mr. Press coincided with Mr. Mason. Knowing that this question was coming up he had prepared a plan, and showed the Gum Commissioners that the heavy gum traffic came over only miles of main road, above Kawakawa, Between Kawakawa and Whangarei it was in a state which would require exceptionally heavy expenditure, far beyond anything the County Council could.deal with, and would require Government assistance. There were also other roads which required to be similarly dealt with. Mr. McKbnzie showed that the grant for the Main North Road, last session, for 170 miles, was £1370, or about £8 per mile, which, it was needless to point out, was practically useless. He urged the Northern members to adopt concerted action to remedy this. Mr. McKay said that on the portion of the Great North Road in his riding, about 30 miles, the rates collected would not put up one of the bridges, and he considered the Government should assist. Mr. Gubb said Rodney had 42 miles of this road, and the grant given was £2000, of which they got £350, with which his Council did 90 chains of installing on 42 miles. They had a good claim for this road. Mr. Harding wished to know which was the Great North Road? He had instructions from his Council to lay the claims of the western side of the island to a share of money voted for connecting his district, and would move an amendment to the effect, " That, in the opinion of this Conference, until some settled form of grant is made to the North Auckland counties, the Government be requested in consideration of the loan money which we are justly entitled to in the past; to allocate money to the making and maintenance of the Main North Road, and that in making this allocation the attention of the Government be called to the facc that the western branch through the Otainatea, Hobson, and Hokianga counties lias had nothiug spent by the Government upon it in the past." Mr. Isbister thought that there was a natural division of the road at Maungaturoto, one goinfj east and the other west. They had previously asked chat they should receive a fair share of the moneys devoted to roads. This was when Mr. Mitchelson was Minister of Public Works, and the only result was that the various councils have had the road forced on them for maintenance. Mr. Holt spoke in a similar strain. Mr. Thompson suggested that in speaking of the Great North Road they included the western portion from Maungaturoto to Mifcitai. After some further discussion Mr. Mason withdrew his motion in favour of Mr. Harding's motion, which he had much pleasure in seconding, and on being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously. Thursday :. Second Day. NATIVE LAND QUESTION. The report of the committee on Native Land question, was read by Mr. Harding. The following clauses were adopted :—l. That it is the opinion of this Conference that the difficulty of collecting the rates on Native Land will be so great that the Native Land Rating Act will be of little value to the County Councils. 2. That legislation should be enacted for the setting aside ample reserves for the use of the natives, who shall have the option of making their own selection, facilities being given for the individualition of the titles to those reserves, such reserves to be alienable. 3. That the balance of the lands be taken over by the Government, and dealt with as Crown Lands with Crown titles. 4. That as at present provided debentures for the ascertained value be lodged with the Public Trustee, the interest to remain in his hands until the natives have passed the lands through the court, and ascertained who are -entitled to receive the interest. The Government still to proceed with purchase as funds are available. 5. That on certificate from the local body certifying the amount of rate struck and due, the Public Truetee be empowered to pay the same out of the funds in his hands. Mr. Gubb was of opinion that the Rating Act was a step in the right direction, and that it should have a fair trial. Mr. Harding thought the Act quite unworkable. His county was adopting it, but he foresaw a lot of trouble with it, and consideied it showed a desire on the part of the Government to deal with the question. Mr. Mason also spoke. POSTAL FACILITIES. Mr. Press moved, " That the Conference desires to call attention to the extract from the statistics published by the Post Office authorities as evidencing the trading capacity of the northern counties as compared with other parts of the colony." . Mr. Harding seconded the motion. He thought the thanks of the Conference were due to Mr. Press for his trouble in looking up the figures. He would supplement his figures by calling attention to the fact that the money business done at the Dargaville Post Office was equal to that done afc^ Hamilton and Cambridge Post Offices combiued. The motion was carried, and the chairman and a committee were appointed to draw up a tabulated statement far publication. REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. Mr. Harding moved, " That the chairman draw up and have published a report of the proceedings of this Conference, and that the cost of same be divided between the local bodies represented." Mr. Gubb seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr. Harding expressed his admiration of the way in which the Chairman had presided, VOTES OF THANKS. A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman was moved by Mr. Gubb, seconded by Mr. Press, and carried by acclamation. Mr. Mason, replying, thanked the delegates for their expression and for their attendance, and thought that they should meet annually for interchange of opinions before Parliament meets, and thought it would be productive of much good to the North if it could be arranged, and he saw no reason why it should not be arranged. On Wednesday evening after the adjournment of the Conference, Mr. Mason, the chairman, entertained the visiting delegates and a few friends at a banquet at the Commercial Hotel. The usual toasts were drunk and interspersed with songs. Altogether a very pleasant evening was spent, and the visitors expressed themselves as highly pleased with their visit and the result of the Conference. The Conference broke up at noon on Thursday, and the delegates returned to their respective homes. ■