COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9321, 16 June 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

COUNTY COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

The conference of delegates from County Councils whose revenues have been affected by the abolition of the gold duty and by the repeal of the Crown Lands Ruling Act, was resumed at the Government Buildings on Saturday, sitting till 4 p.m. The following resolutions were passed, and are to be submitted to the Government; — That since the repeal of the Crown Lands Rating Act the revenue placed at the disposal of the West Cos<st Counties, and the Waimea and Lake Counties, is quite inadequate to meet requirements, and unless the Government provides something equivalent for the loss of revenue, local government in those districts must assuredly break down.

. 2. That in view of the exceptional position in which the counties on the West Coast are situated owing to the Crown lands being reserved for the purpose of the Midland Railway, this conference recommends that the Colony should pay rates on tqe unselected lands within the area—such rates not to exceed one penny in the pound on the capital value, and the amount payable to any one county not to exceed L 2030 in any year, 3. That it is desirable to amend subsection 5 of section 311 of tho Counties Act, 1886, so as to enable county councils (o make by-laws providing for the licensing of all vehicles using county roads, whether plying for hire or not.

4. That the Nelson, Westport, Grey, Inangahua, and Westland main roads be recognised as a colonial work, and the Government be asked to defray the cost of maintaining the same, the said roads being to a considerable extent used for mall purposes alone ; that the main road from Queenstown to the boundary ot the Vincent County be treated in the same manner.

5. That the Government be asked to pass a validating Act freeing members of goldfield county councils from the responsibility placed upon them by section 211 of the Counties Act, 18SG; that owing to the abolition of the gold duty*, and the insufficient substitute provided by tho Mining Rating Act, the various goldfields counties are quite unable to repair tho great joss incurred prior to the close of the financial year. 6. That in all mining districts the goldfields revenue and rates on mining property should be accrued county revenue, and that no portion of revenue accruing from such sources should be appropriated by boroughs and town districts as at present.

7. That the Minister be asked to give his interpretation to clause 71 of the Mining Act, x m.

8. That section 38 of the Local Bodies Loan Act, 1886, be amended so that if a majority of the ratepayers recording their votes are in favour of a proposal, it shall bo deemed carried.

9. That the goldfields revenue, being local taxation, should be treated as rates payable to tho local authority, and subsidised out of the consolidated revenue at the rate of pound for pound. 10. That sections 46 and 83 of tho Counties Act, ISS6, be amended so that alteration in tho representation and boundaries of ridings, or number of ridings in a county may be made at any time during the triennial period, and on the gazetting of the special order making such alterations in tho representation or boundaries of ridings or counties, it shall at once come into operation That in the event of a petition, signed by not less than two-thirds of the ratepayers of a county, being presented to a county council praying for alteration in the represent*tion or boundaries, and the county council fail to make a special order as prayed for within four months of tho presentation of the petition, the petitioners may send their petition to tho Governor, who may taka such steps as ha deems necessaiy to meet the justice of tho case.

11. That county councils should have the same power in the matter of fires and fire brigades as municipalities have under section 347 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1886. 12. That in the opinion of this Conference there are too many local governing bodies, and costly administration being caused thereby, this Conference recommends the Government to bring about a change, in the direction of merging and amalgamating some of the said bodies with the counties, especially in the goldfields districts. And, for tho sake of economy and for the purpose of relieving the West Coast and other counties of the enormous demands made for charitable aid, the Government cause Dr McGregor to make an enquiry, and ascertain where savings can be effected by tho amalgamation or closing of charitable institutions, and that the Governor-in-Council should have power to give effect to £uoh recommendation Dr McGregor may make m this respect. 13. That the Counties Act should be so amended so as to enable councils to vote a sum of money to defray the expenses of delegates appointed to meet other local bodies in connection with county matters.

14. That counties should have tho same powers to deal with the lighting of streets os are given t> municipalities under section 353 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1886. 15. That clause 105 of the Counties Act, 1886, bo amended by excising the words ‘actual travelling only, coming a distance exceeding three miles.*

Another meeting of the conference will bo held this morning for the purpose of considering a further, resolution—which requires the confirmation of tho members before being submitted to the Government—to the effect that the Conference favours tho imposition of gold duty, the measure to be a permissive one, and to be made effective by a vote of the county council.

The delegates will meet the West Coast members at 10.30, and the Premier at 12.30.