LOCAL GOVERNMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8187, 31 July 1912, Page 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

VAR ro US RECOAI MEX DATT OX S. The conference of delegate* reprobating the Municipal Association of New Zealand \\.us resumed at the council chamber, Town Hull, yesterday. Mr D. McLaren presided. Tit A YELLING A M.OWANUES. Mr W. 11. Colliugwooil (Palmerston North) moved Tlmt tlie Governor-in-Ctnincil, under tlii. v powers coiit'errod liy section 13 of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Ant, IUIO, he requested to fix the travelling allowance of Mayor or councillors travelling on tlie council's business, with the authority of the council, at fiist-class train or steamer fare return, and tills per day for the time actually occupied in travelling and performing the work authorised by the said council; also that travelling expenses of the servants of the local authority be deemed lawful exp'T.ditnre, whoa they are travelling on council business. lie pointed out that (he Aitdilor-Oeneral had refused to pass such payments. ft was agreed that the provision should also apply to town boards; the expenses not to exceed 20s a day; and in this form 51;■ - remit was approved. PAYMENT FOR BANDS. Mr .1. A. Nash (Palmerston) moved— That the following subsection l.e added to section 299 of the Municipal Corporations Act. 1908: —"(O) The council may, out of its general funds, pay to a band or bunds a sum not exceeding in aJJ £IOO per annum for supplying music in any of the pleasure grounds, gardens, libraries, museums, music halls, or gymnasiums, provided for the purpose of enjoyment or recreation of the public.” (The Audit Office refuses to pass such payments). The remit was seconded by Mr W. U. Scandrett (Invercargill), and carried. A remit by Wanganui, that councils may set aside in a special bank fund for special purposes, for which there was no provision at present in law, otherwise than in the district fund, was deferred for legal advice by the association's legal adviser (Mr T. F. Martin). Mr Foot (Wairoa.) thought that the power asked for was already given in the statute. x STREETS. “That the conference consider the advisability of recommending the Government to amend the law re respect of lateral support; inasmuch as that, as the law stands at present, lateral support must be provided in the formation, of new roads to persons having built without due observance of the fixed levels of such roads, and in providing such lateral support the footways are bo diminished as to monopolise, in many instances, the whole of the footway. The local authorities should be given the power to remove the batters after the lapse of a stated period.” This was moved by Mr G. J. Garland (Grey Lynn), who pointed out that enormous masses of water came down on streets at various times of the year, in spite of all provisions. Local ■bodies should have power to take possession of contiguous land interfering at such seasons with the proper condition of streets.

The remit was rejected by a substantial majority. COST OF ASPHALTING.

A good deal of discussion took place on a motion by Mr H. Davis (Ashburton j as follows: —

“That section 167 of the Municipal Corporations Act. 1908, bo amended by adding the following clans© : —‘lf the council, at any time after a footway has been laid out or constructed, but. not asphalted, considers it necessary or desirable that such footway should bo asphalted, it may impose not exceeding one-half iof tho cost of such asphalting upon the owners of lands and buildings fronting the same.'' Mr Lusk (To Kuiti) ■ thought they should have power to take from propertyowners the proportion stipulated. Mr D. P. Loasby (Greytown) opposed the motion; it might bear hardly on owners who would have to pay for the benefit of other people. The remit was rejected by 27 votes to

Mr A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington) moved: —“That, as the legislation as to the maintenance and construction of private streets and private ways is unsatisfactory, legislation should be passed, authorising councils to deal with these matters on tho lines of the Local Government Act, 1903, of Victoria.” An explanatory note stated: —“This Act gives councils power to construct these ways after giving notice to parties interested of its intention, and depositing specifications for inspection for a fixed period, and hearing objections to the scheme. Our statute does not enable us to charge all parties benefited. The Victorian Act does.” The suggestion was unanimously agreed to. MOTOR TRACTION. “That the Municipal Act, 1908, bo amended to permit a local authority to establish any system of traction in addition to tramways, as at present defined.” Mr Nash (Palmerston North), in moving this, pointed out that the trackless motor was being used a good deal in other parts of the world, and, it could lie introduced to advantage in the Dominion. It would not bo so expensive as tramways. Mr Pearce thought the remit should be more specific: it allowed boroughs to build railways. If thev wanted motorbusses, the motion should say so. The suggestion was 'approved. SEWER CONNECTIONS.

Mr H. Holland (Christchurch) moved: “That any person laying out a new street bo compelled, when required by the local authority, to lay in such street a sewer connected with a public sewer, and a water main connected with the municipal waterworks, provided there is a public sewer and water-main within 66 feet of any public entrance to such new street.” Streets were often made, he said, without regard to suitability for sewer and water services. A man cut up land, obtained profits on «the subdivision, and then ratepayers had to pay for the sower connections. •The motion was opposed by Mr J. Nash (Palmerston), who pointed out that where land was cut up, the local authority received fees. Hon. J. Barr had yet. to find a property owner Who cut up land for the good of the district. Ho generally did it for himself, to make all he could out of it. Local bodies should insist, that such owners should provide drainage and water services. They ought to deal radically and firmly with people who cut up land; this was a; first procedure in town planning, which would be opposed by all the little vested interests.

Tho remit was carried. On the motion of Mr A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington), it was agreed "That tho power to define the ordinary supply of water, aud to decide whether tho same shall be measured by meter, as provided by the Act of 1886, be restored to local bodies.” INSPECTION OF METERS.

“That legislative power be given to Municipal Councils to appoint inspectors to test gas-meters belonging to private gas companies.” In moving this, Mr H. Holland (Christchurch) said that municipalities had no power of checking meters; tlie matter was a burning question in Christchurch. The meters should be tested from time to time.

Mr J. Fuller thought that electric meters should be tested ns -well, ' and municipalities should be tested besides private persons. He moved to delete ‘'municipal councils,” and to - make the power to test electric meters to belong both to private and municipal bodies. The amendment was lost, however, and the motion was agreed to. ,A .suggestion by Mr C. E. Mackay (Wanganui) that a more stringent and sys-

tematio inspection of dairy herds should be made by Government inspectors was approved. OPEN SPACES. Mr R. T. Michaels (Auckland) urged an amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act whereby "X'o owner or lessee of any land now being the site of a dwellinghouso shall sell or part with any portion' of such land;, the effect whereof would be to leave a lesser area or open space to such dwellinghouse than is required in respect of new dwellinghouses.” The motion was unanimously npprovcd. /Another amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act was suggested by Mr W. J. McGrath (Napier), that the Act “shall not apply to hotels, nor to any dwellinghouso the rear of which abuts directly on any public street or place, nor to any' dwellinghouse which has at the rear thereof, and exclusively belonging thereto, an open space which is of less extent than that required by this section, but. which abuts on any such jiublio street or place.” The chairman thought the suggestion was a little risky: thq definition of “place” in the statute was uncertain and its application to dwellings was doubtful.

Tho motion was rejected. LOCALITY OF BILLIARD SALOONS. Mr Michaels (Auckland) moved —“That the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act dealing with the licensing of billiard rooms be amended to give municipalities extended power so that not only the character of the applicant and the suitability of the building shall he taken into account, but also the question as to whether the locality is suitable or otherwise, when deciding upon any application for a billiard room license.” He pointed out that there was no power to deem localities unsuitable. The remit was agreed to. INSANITARY BUILDINGS. Without discussion it was decided on the motion of Wellington delegates— That fiction 90, Public Health Act. 1908, be amended so as to authorise local bodies to order repairs to buildings. SECOND-HAND TIMBER. Air W. Organ (Eastbourne) moved and it was agreed— That local authorities be empowered to make provision that no second-hand timber whatsoever shall be removed from one district to another unless such timber shall have been first inspected and approved by a duly appointed officer of the local body governing the district into which it is proposed to bring such second-hand timber, and that no secondhand timber whatsoever shall be used for building purposes in any district unless the same shall have been first inspected and approved by a duly appointed officer of the local body governing the district wherein such timber is proposed to be so used. PEES ON PLANS.

On the motion of Mr R. Fletcher (Wellington) it was decided— That a strong protest be lodged against the practice recently introduced by tho Department of Lands of charging fees on all plans required by law to beaubmitted to the Chief Surveyor for approval, although there is no statutory authority to make such charges. PAYMENT FOR BRIDGES.

Mr G. W. Browne moved for New Plymouth and it was decided— That section 119 of the Public Works Act, 1908, under which local authorities benefiting by the construction of a bridge, etc., may be compelled to contribute thereto, be amended to also provide that the local authorities concerned in lieu of taking the steps prescribed by the said section may, by agreement, arrange the proportion of the cost to be borne by each local authority.

PENALTY FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RATES.

Mr M. J. Millar (Lyttelton) moved— i

That section 28 of the Rating Amendment Act, 1910, be amended so as to provide that an additional 10 per cent, shall be payable on all rates remaining unpaid for three months after the date upon which they first become payable. That the date upon which, the penalty will be added be plainly printed on the rate demand form, aud that no other notice be required. That tho collection of the 10 per cent, penalty by the local authority be made compulsory, so that the system shall] work uniformly throughout the Dominion.

The mover urged that the adoption of some such system {was very desirable and necessary. I The remit was withdrawn in favour of the following one sent forward by Christchurch—

That section 80 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, and section 70 of the Rating Act, 1908, be amended to empower local authorities to add 10 per cent, to all rates when first demanded, with a view to allowing a discount of 10 per cent, on all rates paid within three months ■ after due date, and a discount of 5 per cent, on all rates paid between three and six months after due date.

It was pointed out by several speakers that to allow a discount on rates would lead to much trouble in regard to finance, as the local authorities would never know exactly how nvuch to expect. An Auckland delegate declared that there need bo no difficulty over the collection of rates, provided there were the right staff in the town clerk's office. After a long discussion the remit was lost. The Lyttelton remit was then reinstated and carried by a majority of one vote. . Mr McGrath (Napier) moved — That section 64 of the Eating Act, 1303, which entitles a person rated in respect of any dwellinghouse or other building to a remission of half rates where such dwellinghouse or building remains vacant for not lees than six months in any rating year, be repealed. Strong objection was raised by Mr G. J. Garland (Grey Lynn),' who said they might as well propose to grant exemption on unoccupied sections. It would never do at all. _ _ . The remit was carried by a majority of two votes. EATING FOR USE OF STREETS. MrE. Fletcher (Wellington) moved and it was decided — That local bodies be given statutory powers to rate companies or persons using the public streets for purposes of profits. It was also decided on the motion ot Grey Lynn— That boroughs whose rating is on the basis of unimproved value be given the same power in respect of rating gas oinpanies’ mains, electric tram lines, etc., as is given under the Eating Act. UNION OP BOROUGHS. Mr J. Gleeson (Auckland) moved— That section 29 of the Eating Amendment Act, 1910, be amended by the addition ot a proviso that in cases where two boroughs amalgamate, but prior thereto enter into an agreement that the rating system in force in one or both of them shall continue, such borough shall, after amalgamation, be a special rating area in the united borough, and the system of rating therein before amalgamation shall continue. The motion was carried. BATES ON GOVERNMENT PEOPEETY. ,r L am sure that this remit will appeal to almost everyone here,” said Mr R. Fletcher, in moving for Wellington— That the. Crown’s exemption from rates be. abolished. He declared that it was just about time that the Government saw that some justice was done in this respect. Wellington was specially affected. Without discussion the motion was carried. Other motions adopted under the same heading were— That properties acquired by the Government as dwellinghouses for officers

of the Railway and Tourist Department he rated.

Tiiat on short tenancies all lands held by the Government, or in trust for tho Education Department, bo ratable if they are lot by tho week or month or any less tenancy then sufficient to bring the person in occupation within tho present definition of “occupier,” and that in all theso eases the owner will be liable for rates.

That th-'- Workers’ Dwellings Act, 1908, be amended so that the Government shall be made liable for rates in the same way as are all other owners of land.

ELECTION ROLLS. Air W. A. Veitch moved for the Gonville Town Board, and it was carried — That a further amendment be made to section 16 of the Town Boards Act, 2908, to provide that the electors’ roll shall only be required to be prepared during the year in which a general election of members takes place, and that the time the roll is to be prepared bo altered from “the month of April” to “the month of July.” PUBLICAN'S LICENSES. Mr F. J. Foot moved for Wairoa— That the annual fees for a publican’s license be increased, and that the amount thereof bo proportioned directly to th© population resident in tho boroUgh, and within seven miles if the license premises be situated within or without borough respectively, and inversely to the number of licensed houses in the area of population. Tito mover declared that in some districts tho licensed houses had vastly appreciated in value and diminished substantially in number so that tho revenue derivable was considerably less. The motion was seconded by Air G. V. Pearce, AI.P., who said that a monopoly had been erected, and it was only fair that the boroughs which had made their values bigger should get some re 1 turn. Mr W. J. AlcGrath (Napier) opposed the motion, saying ho thought that the publicans paid enough already and should bo left alone. Other delegates spoke strongly against the remit, which was lost. The following remit from New Plymouth was also defeated— That the Licensing Act be amended in the direction -“of increasing the license fees for hotels, the amount of the license fee being, in the opinion of this conference. not commensurate with Lite value of the monopoly created by the granting of snch licenses. Tho conference will be resumed this

morning.