MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23136, 11 March 1937, Page 10

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

A COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA EXCELLENT PROGRESS MADE (Pen United Press Association) TIMARU Mar. 10. A comprehensive agenda of 100 remits covering practically all phases of civic administration was presented to delegates at the first business session of the New Zealand Municipal Association’s conference at Timaru to-day. The president of the association, Mi T. Jordan (Masterton) occupied the chair. The annual report, which was adopted, covered a wide range of subjects, including the industrial activity resulting from legislation, and the proposed amalgamation of local bodies. The balance sheet showed an excess of expenditure ovef income of £35 8s 6d. Good progress was made during the day, the main agenda of remits being completed. Four remits were advanced by the Timaru Borough calculated to overcome difficulties such as confronted the returning officer last June, when, consequent upon the death of a former Mayor, two candidates entered the campaign for the vacancy and one withdrew within seven days of the election, thus creating a delicate legal position. The conference passed a remit declaring the vacancy an extraordinary vacancy. The conference endorsed the principle contained in an Auckland remit that local body officers should have the right to appeal to a statutory board of appeal. The provision of legislation to permit local bodies to require subdividing owners permanently to form and seal to a council’s satisfaction any right-of-way or pathway to a section without a frontage to a dedicated road was sought in a Devonport remit, which was carried. The conference referred to the executive to discuss with tjie Minister of Finance a remit from Auckland dealing with an amendment of the definition of “ rateable property in the Rating Act and the Municipal Corporations Act, so that a local body would have power to rate the owners of premises which were leased partially or wholly to the Crown. An amendment of section 69 cf the Rating Act to provide for no remission of rates where an owner had not made an effort to let a property at a reasonable rental was sought in a Mount Eden remit, which was carried. Tauranga secured support for a remit that the Government should be asked not to interfere in the control of electrical supply unless the particular supply authority proved to be incapable of conducting its supply. A Motueka remit carried was that it be a recommendation of the conference that a clause be inserted in the Local Bodies (Amalgamation) Bill that no borough be amalgamated with a county without a referendum of the people. The conference agreed to seek the representation of boroughs on District Highways Councils.