NEW ZEALAND COUNTIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 30

NEW ZEALAND COUNTIES

ASSOCIATION’S BIENNIAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, September 28. The biennial conference of the New Zealand Counties Association opened to-day, Mr A. E. Jull (Waipawa), president, in the chair. There were over 50 delegates present from different parts of the dominion. Apologies for absence were read from the Acting Prime Minister and other Ministers. The President, in his address, referred to the main matter of interest to the association—the construction and maintenance of highways. The whole system of local government was reviewed by the president, and on the motion of Sir James Wilson he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his exceedingly able report. The statement of accounts and the balance sheet, showing a surplus of assets over liabilities of £522. were adopted. Remits dealing with subsidies to general rates were by unanimous agreement deferred until the Minister of Public Works had made his promised statement on the Highways Bill. The proposed exemption of county councils from the operation of the Arbitration Court awards was discussed. The delegates entered a strong protest against restrictions on the activities of local bodies by an act of law which was a danger to all local bodies a.s it stood at present. Mr W. Jones (Whangarei) strongly advocated the maintenance of the present system of working under the awards. The counties knew exactly where they were, and so did the employees. Mr H. Cornelius (Pahiatua) advocated doing away with both unionism and arbitration. He did not think any local body could cut down wages below a fair level. It. would not pay. Mr C. Johnston (Raglan) said the award system meant that the good man had to carry the waster on his back, and the result was bad. The remit was adonted unanimously. 'I he abolition of ridings was warmly discussed. On a remit moved by Mr J. Connett (Taranaki) _ to amend the counties so as to abolish ridings the mover gave instances of parochialism seriously affecting the welfare of residents in a county. In one case, the destruction of a concrete bridge by flood was laid to the cost of the riding in which it was situated. Similar instances were given by other delegates. September 29. The conference of the New Zealand Counties’ Association was resumed to-day, Mr A. E. Jull (Waipawa) presiding:. A resolution was passed deprecating any dual taxation in regard to motor vehicles, and expressing the opinion that if further revenue lie needed it should be obtained by means of a tyre tax. The conference decided to urge the Government to increase the proposed subsidy to hospital boards in regard to local contributions from contributing authorities to an amount in the region of 30s 9d to tlie £■■ In order to avoid costly procedure under the Public Works Act. ir was decided that section 11 of “The Land Act, 1908.’’ should bo extended so as to apply to all cases whore road de\in I ions and leg slat .ion affect Native land, vesting the president of Pie Native Land Board of the dblriet with power to deal with all such matters. 'Remits that any person who is on the defaulters’ list he disoualified from nominatin'!; a candidate For election as a councillor, and that anv such person be incapable of hieing elected a councillor, wore carried hv 30 votes to 2.9.' Another remit was. to empower a local body to pay out of loan moneys j welim : na ry expenses incurred in obtaining the necessary authority for raising nieh loan, prov'• d• •'■ i due notice be given. This was car rmd. h was resolved that in all oases where a local authority in-Phiios proceedings in respect to bundles of tlm Impounding Act. all lines imposed should he paid to such local authority. Aunt her remit was pas od agreeing that the mileage fee impounded on cattle? sna.ll be Is per head per mile, or traction of a mile, irrespective of the number.

| It was decided that it be a recommenda- . fion to the Mines Department to allocate grants for the upkeep of roads in coal disI tricts, on similar lines to the allocation of votes for roads in goldfields districts. Many machinery amendments to sections of the Public Works Act were carried. One ! was to provide for power to be given to local bodies to proceed for damages against persons damaging any road vested in that local body bv reason of heavy traffic, without such local body having adopted by-laws regulating heavy extraordinary traffic. It was further agreed that the fee payable to the interested local authority should accompany all transfers of properties, and that no transfers be given effect to until all rates owing on that property have been paid. An amendment to a remit under the Rating Act was carried to the effect that three months be allowed in which general rates should be paid. It was decided that local authorities should not have to pay registration fees on liens on Native lands on account of unpaid Native rates, and that the Government be asked to introduce legislation to provide that all banks carrying on business in the dominion pay interest on the daily balance of local bodies’ current accounts. This was another remit which was carried. The election of office-bearers resulted: President, Mr A. E. Jull (re-elected); vicepresidents. Sir J. G. Wilson (Manawatu) and Mr J. D. Bruce (Akaroa); executive — Messrs J. P. Bailey (Waikato), M. Bothell (Amuri), T. Mason Chambers (Hawke’s Bay). J. Connelly (Taranaki), F. R. Flatman (Geraldine), J. B. Gow (Op-otiki), G. M. Hall (Heathcote), B. P. Lethbridge ; (Rangitikei), W. H. MTntvre (Buller), W. | Morrison (Waitora), C. N. Orbell (Levels), j and .T. Wall (Waitomo). j MOTOR TYRE TAX APPROVED. I The following report was submitted by 1 the committee to whom the Highways Bill and cognate matters were referred, and was ■ adopted: j 1. That the New Zealand Counties’ Asso j ciation feels that it would be most pre- ! judicial to local government in the do i minion for the State to take control of the i main roads. i 2. That this conference again approves of I a tax being imposed on motor tyres as a j contribution towards road maintenance. I 3. That this conference suggests that in lieu of the present system a subsidy of 10s j in the £ on general rates in counties should be granted, except upon such portion of the general rates expended. The subsidy would produce approximately £400,000 per annum m addition to the amounts now paid. 4. That this conference suggests that such j subsidy should be expended on die main ] traffic roads in each county, such roads to j be defined by a board (or boards) for the North Island and for the South Island by the representative of the Government and county councils, and such expenditure to be approved by the said board. (Note: The above subsidy will be in addition to any rates expended on these roads.) It was also decided to ask the Minister to furnish returns of the £230,000 spent on the construction and the £50,000 on the maintenance of main arterial roads with a view to showing through what counties those roads run and what proportion was granted to those which put. down tar-sealed A deputation representing the flood Knars' Association attended the conference, an t J announced that it supported the Minister's scheme, and. considered it better than the counties' idea of tin increased subsidy. The deputation also rejected to toll gates and local bodies charging license fees on mi a. u s. The Chairman, in reply, said his association held that mere expeditious improvement would he effected by local authority than by sotting tip tt fresh set of nutehircu v. Motorists would be infinitely better served by the conference's proposal* than b.v the Minister's.