LOCAL AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8189, 2 August 1912, Page 5

LOCAL AFFAIRS.

LEGISLATION ASKED FOR DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER FROM MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. Delegates to the conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, who have been sitting in Wellington this week, waited on the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday with a request for legislative recognition of their various suggestions in regard to municipal government. The Hon. H. D. Bell (Minister for Internal Affairs) was present. Mr D. McLaren (Mayor of Wellington) said it would b© burdensome and unnecessary to recite all the resolutions which had been passed. The conference was representative of all the boroughs and town boards of the Dominion. Every remit had received careful attention, and it would be recognised that the decisions of men engaged in local government were of value to Parliament. The full text of the conference’s resolutions would be laid before the Prime Minister later on. The conference was agreed that the same electoral system in use for general elections should be used for local bodies elections. That was to do away with marking voting papers by a cross. Local bodies were also of opinion that they should have their own commissioners for sinking funds, and that agricultural land should be preserved from damage by mining. Powers were sought for making regulations in regard to motor traffic, registration, and speed. In regard to mayoral elections, the conference de cided that the term of office be retained, but decided it was somewhat petty to charge income tax on mayors’ honoraria. The proposal of the Local Government Bill to extend councillors’ term to three years was not agreed to. They asked for power to pay for attendance on Government clocks. He particularised various other resolutions of the conference. The aaosa.l for a Local Government Board ’ been rejected. The conference had shown an earnest desire to make local government as perfect as possible. He asked that the privilege of Government printing of the conference records be extended the association. .... , Mr H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch) congratulated the Prime Minister on his elevation and wished him every success. The speaker referred to gas tests as made in England. In Christchurch the gas companies laid mains without consulting the council, and either the Government or the municipality should test the meters. The Lake Coleridge power, scheme gave this matter special significance, and the Christchurch council knew they had a big monopoly to fight. They asked for power to enforce penalties in cases of non-payment of rates within a certain time. The conferences had passed some sixty-five resolutions in successive years, and practically no notice had been taken of them. It seemed almost like a waste of time. ' Mr John Wilson (Mayor of Dunedin; urged that Parliament enould consider the remits passed from time to time. Anomalies in regard to small streets and other matters should be removed. Ho instanced Dunedin experience with blind alleys which needed to be connected with main streets. Dunedin was prepared to erect a fish market if they had the power. They held the view that all fish should bo brought through the market, and private people almost had a lien ovei the fish business. Mr McLaren said that the conference had agreed to endorse the proposal for Dominion certificates for plumbers. PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. The Prime Minister, in reply, thanked speakers for their congratulations, which he highly appreciated. He need hardly say he was very glad to have the opportunity of meeting so many representatives of the borough councils, city councils and town boards—the last-mentioned very important local bodies. He appreciated to the full the importance of

conferences of this kind, and as a member ,of -the Government, he looked upon their suggestions as of the utmost value, and likely to be of great assistance to the Government in its legislative duties. Ho was not unfamiliar with some of theirduties, and ho had supported certain of their recommendations in Parliament. In regard to the proposed alteration in the system of voting, when the last Municipal Bill was before Parliament, ho took the opportunity of moving a now clause intended to repeal the provision which provides for voting by placing a cross beside names of the candidates. The present system, he agreed, led to a great deal of confusion, and as he supported the proposal while a private member, he would have no difficulty in supporting it as Minister. With regard to sinking funds, h« was very strongly of opinion that in oases where the local bodies had not borrowed from the Government the. Government had ro right to interfere with the sinking § inds—though, of course, as Government they should be glad to have control of as much money as they could. (Laugh- y ter.) As to the preservation of agricultural land from mining operations, he had visited some of the mining districts and had seen destruction going on. .If the land would not pay for replacing the top soil it would not he interfered with. With reference to printing, he would be glad to recommend the Minister to follow the usual course, and he had not the slightest doubt their request would be acceded to. The Government had not considered whether at would bring down an amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act this session, other matters being more urgent. euggestions and recommendations will receive the full consideration to which -they are entitled, as coming froin such experienced men. as yourselve*.