THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1927. THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 10

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1927. THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

The annual conferences of the Municipal Association, are seldom marked by any features of lively or momenrous interest, but the delegates are wont to dispose of a considerable amount of by no means unimportant business with commendable despatch and a minimum indulgence in loquacity. At the nineteenth conference held at Palmerston North this week two days sufficed to deal with a large order-paper, and there is no reason to believe that any of the topics was inadequately discussed. Two or three matters may be specially menti<n*ed. There will be difference of opinion concerning the recommendation in favour of extending the term of office of mayors and councillors for a longer period than the present two years’ tenure. It is only a few years since the mayoral term was extended, twelve months having been the previous term, and it may be questioned whether there is any widespread demand or convincing reason for a further change, which might have the undesirable effect of slackening pubb'c interest in municipal affairs. As

regards the term of office for councillors, the opinion that is entertained in some quarters that the old system under which a certain proportion of the council retired annually is preferable to the existing rule of a general biennial election, merits greater respect than any proposal for extending the terra should receive. It is scarcely to he anticipated, however, that the Government or Parliament will see occasion to move in the matter in the near future. Nor do we think that there is much likelihood of legislative interference with the stipulation that a person shall not hold office on a local body if he is interested in a contract made by that body to the extent of £5 in the case of a single contract or £lO during a financial year. The suggestion that the figures of exemption should be raised to £2O and £6O respectively would hardly, if carried into effect, tend to strengthen the cause of municipal purity The Mayor of Feilding may be right in saying that the proposed relaxation of the existing rule would not lead to “graft,” but, while the argument that the disqualification provisions of the law seriously narrow the area of selection of councillors in small communities is not negligible, it is well to bo on the safe side and to avoid all possibility of abuse. There is sound reason in the dictum of the Mayor of Christchurch that “if a man wants to trade with a local body he should not be a member of that body.” The conference’s resolution in favour of the establishment of a universal half-holiday touches another matter which is charged with controversy and hardly belongs to the sphere of practical politics at the present time. On the other hand, motor legislation is a subject of pressing importance, and most of the recommendations adopted by the conference are in the direction of strengthening the precautionary provisions and restrictions that are required in the interests of public safety