MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22822, 5 March 1936, Page 10

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM (Per United Press Association) NAPIER, March 4. Rapid progress was made with the business before the delegates to the 1930 conference of the New Zealand Municipal Association which opened to-day. No fewer than 72 remits were dealt with of a total of 179. The following arc some of the more important remits carried: — That the following practices with regard to bicycles on roads or streets be prohibited—(a) riding more than two cycles abreast; (b) double banking; (c) carrying packages, etc., which by reason of their size or Weight might interfere with the management of the cycle; and that the following regulations be enforced: — (a) As to the enforcement of the right-hand rule; (b) as to efficient brakes; (c) front and rear lights to be carried between sunset and sunrise.

That with a view to the proper and adequate control of cyclists the Government be requested to incorporate in the traffic regulations a provision requiring the registration and numbering of cycles. That statutory authority be granted to councils to make by-laws to prevent unnecessary or excessive noises and to regulate the use of motor horns in streets.

That the Municipal Association consider the matter of the multiplicity of local bodies at present in existence and the advisability of recommending some scheme of amalgamation. That the Government be urged to undertake the appointment of the promised commission or committee of the House to examine all aspects of local body government in this Dominion with special reference to the problems of constitution, administration, taxation and finance.

That this conference desires to protest against the proposals of the Government that State aircraft be exempt from all landing accommodation charges at public aerodromes. That in the opinion of this conference the present system of exchange on moneys remitted to countries outside the Dominion is a crushing burden on local body ratepayers and should at once be remedied and that the Government again be urged to deal with the question. That urgent representations be made to the Government to enact legislation prohibiting the keeping in New Zealand of Alsatian dogs or, failing this, providing for the strict control of these dogs and permitting local bodies to fix a higher registration fee than is now payable. That the executive be requested to confer with the health and other authorities and to frame a set of model bylaws covering the conversion of existing buildings into .flats and generally as to the construction. conduct, and regulation of flats. That the provisions of the Valuation of Land Act be amended to allow for a more equitable valuation than is possible under the existing legislation. The executive was instructed to go into the question of the method of voting at local body elections and to see whether some simpler form of voting could be devised.