MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15407, 16 September 1913, Page 9

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

REFORMS RECOMMENDED.

[by telegraph.-—press association.] Weixisotos, Monday. The Legislative Committee of tho Municipal Association of New Zealand met to-day, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presiding. The Christchurch City Council asked the committee's support for the proposal to amend tho Municipal Corporations Act in the direction of providing for th& introduction of proportional votiLj for the election of mayors and councils. After discussion, the matter was postponed for a week.

On representations from Petone regarding the rating of Government property, tho following resolution was adopted : — ''That in the case of rates on workers' dwellings, whore the rates cannot be recovered from the occupier the Government be made liable for the payment of tho amount thereof."

Tho committee resolved that in the amendment of the Local Bodies' Loans Act tho rate of interest of the renewal of loans Bhould be rai.«d to a maximum of 5£ peri cent., instead of 5 per cent., as at present.

The Dunedin Expansion League sug-jre.-.ted the appointment of a Government engineer to devote special attention to roads and secure that public money might be rn'irft judiciously spent. It was resolved to take no other action beyond referring the letter to tho Government. It was decided to ask fur an amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act in order to prevent mock baLiot papers being issued containing a lessor number of names than Ihosy of the actual candidates standing.