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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19883, 9 March 1939, Page 14

DOMINION VIEWS

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIA i lON

WIDE RANGE OF REMITS

FAULTS UN' LEGISLATION

AMENDMENTS REQUESTED

The twenty-ninth annual _ conference of the Municipal Association of New Zealand was opened yesterday morning by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. Delegates were present from all parts of New Zealand under the chairmanship of the president, Mr. T. Jordan, the Mayor of Masterton. The following remits were dealt with:—

Invercargill: "That the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933, be amended to provide that, in the event of an extraordinary vacancy arising in the office of a councillor, there shall be no obligation to fill such vacant position, provided that the personnel of the council as so reduced is not less than the minimum requirements as set out in section 34 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933.” The remit was lost.

Petone: “That the Local Elections and Polls Act, 1925, be amended (a), to conform with present-day conditions: (b), to permit of two or more issues upon one ballot paper; (c), to allow for Saturday polling and the closing of the poll at G p.m.”

It was decided that the remit, so far as it concerned technicalities, should be referred to the Town Clerks’ Institute for an expression of opinion. After a full discussion clause C was defeated.

Executive committee: "That section 28 of the Municipal Corporations Act be amended so as to allow the honorarium payable to a Mayor to be increased during his term of office.” The remit was defeated.

Retiring- Allowances

Wellington and Wanganui Councils: "That legislation be obtained to authorise the payment of retiring allowances, not exceeding six months, in addition to superannuation payments." The remit was carried. Motueka: “That power be given to local authorities to levy a uniform library fee in lieu of making and levying a special library rate for the purpose of. 'maintaining a free public library.”

The mover said that, with the advent. of free public libraries under the Government country library service, it was being found that, in boroughs where there was a large proportion of farm lands, the ordinary rating system was inequitable and that an annual fee levied on each house would be more just.

Mr. Allum (Auckland) and Mr. Darker (Wairoa) urged that the matter be referred 1 to the executive

•ommittee for sympathetic consideraion and this course was adopted. Christchurch: “That the scope of section 11 (i of the Municipal Cor.poraions. Act be extended to authorise "cal bodies to insure Mayor and coun-

iliors against personal injury sustained while on council business in accident funds established under the authority of the said section 11G.” The remit was rejected.

Question of Compensation

Christchurch: "That the provisions if section 171 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933, and section 42 of flu* Public Works Act, 1928, be amended to protect a local body from liability to pay compensation to persons mitering any damage from unavoidable accidents occurring during the exercise of its powers under such Acts." The remit was referred to the executive committee. Christchurch: "That the Government be requested to make provision in the Municipal Corporations Act for the payment of fixed allowances' to members of city and borough councils, or as an alternative that provision be made for members of city or borough councils to be compensated for monetary loss resulting from time lost from their permanent employment while attending to the business of the council.” The .remit was defeated.

Pahiatua: "That this conference agrees that the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933. should be amended to enable boroughs to levy a uniform or graduated annual fee for the ordinary water supply up to a maximum of, say, £3 in , lieu of making and levying water rates and charges as provided at arcsent. and that this remit be referred c the executive to draft sod submit a lcc.'OK.sary amendment to the Act so as o give effect to this resolution.” The remit was carried. Insurance Premiums Invercargill: "That power be given to nay insurance premiums from a council’s insurance fund established under the provisions of sections 115 and 116 of the Municipal Corporations Act. 1933.” The remit was carried. ’Stratford: "That the Government be urged to pass legislation empowering local authorities to grant extended eases to aero clubs of aerodromes con-y-oiled by such local authorities.” The •emit was carried. Lower Tlutt: "That legislation be enacted giving local authorities which use .vatfcr from artesian wells as the town water supply a reasonable measure of jontrol as to the sinking of additional )ores in any position ki their areas which might injuriously affect the exstiny town supply, and also giving mwer to have disused wells cfloctivoh waled and generally to prevent the waste of water from artesian sources. The remit was carried. Dilapidated Buildings Dunedin City Council: "That the provisions of section 304 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933 be extended in the direction of including an additional provision empowering a council to deal with buildings which, in its opinion, may be dilapidated and unsightly, but requiring the owner to renovate or remove such buildings. The principal was approved and the