CONFERENCE OF COUNTIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 104, 23 June 1911, Page 7

CONFERENCE OF COUNTIES.

rUPOJIT.WT POINTS EOlv CONSiDKMA'J lON. The Follow ing circular was rohvd at Wednesday’s: mealing of bh > County Council Fiom Mr A. E. .lull, pr ■i , :l m| of (ho New Zealand Conn;:es non i' •'■ -'xcuG v comiiiliro of the Now Z* ilaud Cotuvites es sci.itiov. met on i in; ifel l inst,, . eel the- principal item on the order p par war in consider ilio ques.i ,iF having a conFcrenyc of lelogatcs >i afiiliated local .u.thoiiiios during I'i.* forth* i;:ii ll ■ >, (v.v'ni, of I’ailiaipeiii, ■ This matter was d'sen-sed. 'll length ji'id carefully vorcideitd. Eventually (he Following Uioln.iivu iwas unanimously adoptei r '\ i'i ar, a circular he forwarded .Forthwith to one!) loqrl'body sotting Forth it ho importance in the mind (ft 1 In* je.yeentire! that a eonFereneo should he ijiejd this year to consider (m iho aosoncc of the promised Local Governhiont IJill) the lines upon which locj.l govennnent should ig "framed, ■i in 1 to emphasise the piece njty foi legislation in the direction ii'dna'lod. each local hotly to bo requested to reply by telegraph whether'it is prenafed t.) send a representative.” ' ft; was hoped that the long-pro-mised T/ocal Government Hill, which the Government has, from time to time,! stated would he introduced and circulated would have, ere this; been in the bonds of local bodies. There is, however, no indication that such a measure will he dealt with during the coming session, which will necessarily he a very short one. Your executive, however, feel that it would he a distinct advantage if the opinions of a conference were obtained upon what must bp,; the prominent features in any comprehensive/ scheme of local govonimqijjt;// .Thci Government would in this way, he; in; possession of the views of. tfhg, conference on certain cardinal points of which the following are perhaps the most important:— ''i.ii Extension of County franchise. , Abolition of pluvaly vdtris. Amalgamation or abolition pf tain local bodies. : ’An alteration in the basis b'f!'payment of subsidy. No conference lias been held 1 since 1907, and as a very considerable mini-’ jer a: important matters in' eonnocii.m •with the present local ho : y law and a 1 ministration can he m'st pi ♦u-i 1 !y discussed by a confermeo. In addition to this, about twenty new counties have I icon created since last conference, and those' have not had an opportunity of participating in the advantages to he gained, by meete ing in eonFereneo. The executive will ho glad if your Council will give the asked-for reply by telegraph, as, if a conference is to ho held, it is desirable that the date of same should ho early in August, and some time will ho required for the receipt of remits from the various local bodies. • . ...j ! i It is desirable that the remits arid name and address of delegate: should lie in the hands of the secretary of the Association as speedily as possible. On the motion of'Cr. Asthnry/ it was decided to approve the holding of a conference and to appoin t the. chairman to represent, the : Council.. i i"