County Councils Conference

Southland Times, Issue 13288, 15 August 1895, Page 3

County Councils Conference

(By Telegraph.) Wellington, Aug. 14.’ To-day the conference carried a resolution suggesting technical amendments in the Counties Act, and resolutions were carried that the Government be requested to vest all public reserves, domains, cemeteries, etc., in the name of the local authority; that the local authority be consulted in laying out roads which they are called upon to make and maintain; that native lands, the title of which has been ascertained and the relative interest of owners defined, and situated within five miles of a legally defined road, be liable to contribute full general, separate, and special works rates ; tfiat the Rating Act be' amended to enable county authorities to collect rates upon the value of timber, etc., growing upon land when the person acquiring the right to cut timber is not the owner of the land ; that unpaid rates on Crown lands which have been leased or sold and are forfeited be a first charge upon that land ; that local bodies be informed immediately any Crown lands are alienated; that no borough be formed with a less population than 2000 and must not have an area of more than one square mile to every 1000 of population ; that the Government be requested not to proceed beyond the second reading of the Local Government Bill this session in order to enable the local bodies to express opinions thereon before it passes into law.