SCORES OF REMITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26746, 15 April 1948, Page 6

SCORES OF REMITS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION DISCUSSIONS HELD YESTERDAY The annual conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand yesterday discussed 41 of the 78 remits submitted to it by affiliated bodies. The president, Mr E. R. Neale, M.P., of Nelson, was in the chair. Hospital Levy Mr Hartstonge (Mosgiel) moved: “That the levy on local authorities by hospital boards should not exceed Jd in the £ on the rateable capital value, based on the rateable capital value of respective local authorities as at the date of its passing of section 15 of the Finance Act, 1946.” Support for the remit was given by Mr Will Appleton (Wellington), who explained that the association’s view was that the levy should be stabilised at what-it was before social security came into being. The remit was defeated. Facilities for Sick Voters A Gore remit moved by Mr A. T. Newman asked that provision should be made for the recording of votes of inmates of hospitals, aged or infirm, on the day of the election, provided they were enrolled and their names appeared on the district electors’ roll. The remit was withdrawn, the conference affirming its principle that voting facilities should be provided for sick voters on election days. Method of Voting The manner of marking a ballot paper at the municipal elections was the subject of a remit from Gore, which asked that the method of voting be by striking out, instead of by a cross as at present.—The remit was defeated. „ , . A remit from Nelson asked that an alteration in the law should be made to provide that the system of "voting at local body elections and parliamentary elections be the same as far as the marking of voting papers was concerned, was defeated. Building Fee Refunds “ That the Government be requested to legalise payments made as refunds of building fees when such are approved by the local body,” a remit proposed by Takapuna, was carried. Insurance Funds A Christchurch remit, “ That the Government be requested to make statutory provision enabling local .bodies to establish insurance funds to cover damage to motor vehicles, including the vehicles of third parties,” was referred to the executive for consideration. Rating Systems A proposal from Upper Hutt, “That the maximum general rate on the unimproved value of land be assessed at 5 per cent, or Is in the £l, and that such notification be incorporated into all appropriate law’s dealing with local government,” was lost. The conference carried a remit from Te Kuiti, “That legislative authority should be invoked to empower boroughs operating under the unimproved rating system to fix a minimum charge on all properties which were capable of being served by drainage, water, lighting, and roading.” Dog Registration A remit from Mosgiel, “ That, with a view to abating effectively the nuisance arising from keeping dogs in boroughs, legislation be enacted permitting a substantial increase in dog registration fees,” was discussed at length, the remit being lost on .the casting vote of the chairman. Feilding proposed that the Dogs Registration Act, 1908, be amended to provide for up to five farmers’ or drovers’ dogs being registered at the reduced rate provided under the Act, the remit being carried. A further remit, “ that the Government be recommended to overhaul the Dogs Registration Act, 1908, and bring it up to date,” proposed by Mt. Albert, was carried. Increase in Subsidies “That representations be made to the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, that the rate of subsidy payable to boroughs and cities under section 71 of the Municipal Corporations Act, be increased, and that the limit of subsidy be also increased,” was a remit moved by Mr E. W. Wise, on behalf of the Eastbourne Borough Council.— The mover stressed the number of buildings which were occupied by Government departments, these being exempt from rates. Other speakers claimed that Government departments should pay rates the same as ordinary citizens, but Mr L. J. Irelahd (Dunedin) stressed that if the association wanted the Government to pay rates the local bodies would have to be prepared to pay income tax. Mr E. W. Nicolaus (Mayor of Upper Hutt) moved an amendment that the Government be asked to pay rates as ordinary people did. The secretary (Mr A. A. Eaton) said conference had never asked that the Government should pay rates on -all properties occupied by it. The mover and seconder agreed to the withdrawal of the'amendment, and the remit was carried. Licence Fees' Mr E. . Andrews (Christchurch) moved: “That having regard to the altered value of money, the Government be asked to review all licence fees payable to local bodies under Statute, with a view to fixing such fees at a level commensurate with the fall in value of money since the fees were originally fixed.” The remit was carried. Building By-Laws A Dannevirke remit that the Government be asked to pay building permit fees in the same way as private persons, moved by Mr E. Gibbard, Was withdrawn in favour of the following drafted by Mr J. O’Shea, K.C., the association’s legal adviser: “ That all building by-laws of local authorities be binding on the Crown,” and in this form was carried. Other Remits A remit asking that the minimum charge for water and drainage be £1 a year, instead of 10s, was moved on behalf of the Carterton Borough Council by Mr R. P. Wakelin and carried. A remit rnoved by Mr E. T. Stanley (Matamata) asked the Government to introduce amending legislation to authorise municipalities to make provision for rear access ways to business premises was carried. Remits from Thames and Te Kuiti asked: “With a view to assisting the smaller boroughs by reducing printing costs and legal fees, the association prepare, or set up a committee to prepare, a set of model municipal bylaws.” There was also a remit sponsored by Papatoetoe requesting that the Standards Institute should give priority and treat as urgent the preparation of model by-laws-for municipal corporations.—After a discussion it was decided that a conference should be held with the Standard Institutes on the subject, and that a report should be made to the executive for the June meeting. ' . ’ Mr D G. Gardiner (Levin) moved: “That the eating-house regulations under the Health Act be amended to provide that a local authority may refuse_or suspend—an eating-house licence where, in the opinion of the council, a nuisance is likely to occur, without having to wait until such nuisance actually occurs.—Mr W. J. Rogers (Wanganui) seconded the adoption of the remit. The secretary pointed out that on the face of .it he thought the remit went too far. Were they going to suspend a licence because they though a nuisance was likely to take place? A man’s livelihood might be at stake, and conference should give further consideration to its complications.—The remit was heavily defeated.