THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4103, 16 July 1900, Page 4

THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

The Municipal Conference .will, , commence its annual' proceedings in Wellington - this morning. -It will comprise delegates from all the more important boroughs in the colony. Its work, as has hitherto been the case, will doubtless tend to an improvement in legislation affecting local self-government. Simultaneous with “the assembling of the municipal representatives comes the announcement that the Premier has determined" to introduce a measure for the consolidation . and;-.amendment of the law relating to corporations,, their functions arid their powers. ' That the discussions of the conference will bo opportune is certain, .and the,Government may at once receive some very useful criticism-Tof'its-Tncasure."- The necessity for legislatiou'of'tlie kind proposed lias been manifest for-some years!-arid it has only -been ,the pressure of other sub-jects,-andl: perhaps’ a disinclination to tackle-so great a ’work as a reform of our local government system, 'that ■ has led session ‘ after session 'to a ’postponement of the-suuject.i-" It -is : ; quite, true-that various amendments have from titrio to time been, made, , such-as .the. enlargement of the franchise, but. a comprehensive measure of reform,-although announced,- has never- actually been brought before Parliament. The events of the last few riionths have- iho'wri that the powers of municipalities have been inadequate.. ’ Thjs :has ‘been', particularly apparent’ in i the; matter of the public health. It will, therefore, be proposed, among other matters, by the Municipal Conference that borough councils be given full control of streams into which sewage may be drained; ' arid it is suggested that some.of the powers- which the Governor has . under ’the Bubonic

Plague Prevention Act should be entrusted, tp municipal authorities. It seems reasonable, where a penalty is imposed for the omission to execute any sanitary work by a. private owner, that the Council should be empowered to execute the work, iu the public interest, and should he able to recover the cost from the owners of the properties affected. The measure which the Premier has announced, provides for the enlargement of_thc powers of boroughs in matters pertaining- to public health, and proposer; to include- all provisions affecting boroughs under the Public Works and Public Health Acts, inis will simplify and consolidate' legislation; and we do not doubt that the proposal to cast upon local bodies, under favourable conditions as to subsidies, the maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions will be regarded generally as being advantageous. It has long been’the opinion of many public men throughout the country that the powers of corporations should embrace this important branch of public duly, it being regarded as coming within the proper {unction of the local authorities. ,

There arc a. great, many minor matters, yet of great importance to .municipalities, that will, demand the attention of the conference. 'The burgess roll as at present compiled is not satisfactory in. some places. It, is. claimed that the non-exerciso of the franchise, in boroughs should- entitle town clerks to strike u residentials ” oft the roll. As this rule is applicable to the electoral franchise, and on the maxim that the greater includes the ,less, there, is no valid reason why, it should not also apply to the municipal franchise, otherwise there does not appear.' to be any method of “purging” the rolls. The proposal to give municipalities power to provide, workmen’s houses will doubtless be fruitful of much discussion. In the interests of the sanitation of our cities it is becoming imperative that the nuisances created by '“sliuna” should: be abated; and u poor people are to bo turned out of doors, humanity 'demands that better and more healthful dwellings should bo prepared 1 for them. The relation of boroughs to fire brigades will be discussed, and a proposal that insurance companies, should he directly taxed for the maintenance of fire brigades will lie made. There is much food for debate in the , proposal that municipalities • should be given authority to. establish model farms, agricultural schools, , technical. . school's and rifle ranges. Unless the functions of the Lands, tho Education and the Defence Departments are to some extent to be deputed to borough, councils, tips proposal ought to bo negatived. We desire that the powers of municipalities should be enlarged l , and we deprecate any decrying of the office 1 of town 1 councillor ", hub for this, very reason we fear a. disposition, may arise to over-load; municipalities with work, and heapTipon the cities and towns of the country burdens, that their resources would riot, lie able To. bear. The deliberations of the conference..upon the many and! varied matters to he brought under its consideration will he watched with interest, and the conclusions arrived at by such a representative body ought to have weight.'ll moulding the local government reform measure the Premier has in view.