County Councils’ Conference

Southland Times, Issue 13287, 14 August 1895, Page 2

County Councils’ Conference

(By Telegraph.) Wellington, Aug. 13. The conference resumed this morning. The election of officers resulted as follows : —President, Mr F. A. Majendie (Hutt); vice-presidents, Messrs Fraser and Lang, M.H.R.’s; treasurer, Mr Bolton (Pahiatua); executive,Mr McNab, M.H.R. (Southland); Mr Kebble (Horowhenua), Mr Monkhouse (Stratford), Mr Phillips (Wairarapa South), Mr Von Reden (Wairarapa North), and Mr Dicken (Pohangina). The conference passed resolutions recommending an amendment of the Rating Act in the direction of specifying clearly who shall be the judge of the Assessment Court in cases where more than one magistrate exercises jurisdiction in a district ; also that it be clearly defined how rating may be made and levied on mining property. A resolution was carried that, failing provision in the Local Government Bill, the rating of Crown lands be made as proposed in last year’s bill ; also that the latter be reintroduced should the Local Government Bill fail to pass into law. It was resolved that valuations for rating purposes be made by the Government to secure uniformity, as irregularities between local valuations are causing serious injustices. A motion was carried urging on the Government the desirableness of county councils keeping records of all loans raised within their respective counties, with full particulars re each loin and it purposes, the rating area, etc. A motion was carried that provision bo made in the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act where it is found impossible or inadvisable to expend on public works the full amount of a loan, that the balance bo repaid to the Treasurer and that the latter return to the loca authority debentures to a corresponding amount. It was resolved that power be asked for local bodies to prohibit the planting of evergreen trees within a specified distance from the northern and western boundaries of road reserves.

Resolved, that the Association recommend, failing the enactment of local government reform, that goldfields’ revenue be treated as rates payable to the local authority and be subsidised out of the consolidated fund. It was resolved to ask that hawkers not contributing towards a county’s revenue be prevented from competing with local traders. Resolved, to recommend that an addition be made to clause 51 of the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act, providing that the number of cattle to be slaughtered by farmers shall not exceed twenty small or eight large per week and that a record of the same be kept. The conference adjourned until to-morrow morning.