MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 3, 25 October 1924, Page 5

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

SOME REMITS APPROVED. Auckland, October 24. The municipal conference carried remits as follows: With reference to the union or boroughs a remit urged that the Municipal Corporations Act be amended to provide that a poll on the question should be required if a request to that effect was signed by 25 per cent, of the electors of a petitioning borough. , , Two remits relative to roads and maintenance urged: (a) That where more than two local bodies were concerned power should be given so that the majority of bodies concerned could compel the authority having control to carry out repairs and upkeep as was deemed necessary by the majority of the parties; (b) that control should in all cases be given to the body contributing the largest quota of maintenance, provided there was no mutual agreement to the contrary. A remit from Christchurch urged that a Bill be passed authorising the setting up of a board to control the licensing of wiremen and to standardise the wiring regulations and electrical by-laws throughout New Zealand.

A remit was carried dealing with contracts with a council and providing that section 40 sub-section (5) of the Municipal Corporations Act be amended by increasing the sums of £5 and £lO mentioned therein to £lO and £2O to remove the disqualification from business men whose integrity and ability would make them an acquisition to local bodies. Favorable consideration by the Government Of the question of restoring the library subsidy was urged in a remit from Lyttelton. Sumner urged that, with a view to reducing the cost of constructing apd maintaining streets, the Government should be recommended to import bitumen, to be supplied t 0 local authorities at cost price.

An amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act was suggested in a remit asking that the limit of £4O imposed on expenditure by local bodies in paying the expenses of members travelling to attend conferences be lifted. This was carried with the addition that the section should apply to town hoards also. The conference warmly approved daylight saving, and decided to ask flie Government to give pft’ect to this measure.

The next conference will be held at Dunedin during the exhibition and the Mayor of Dunedin was elected president for the ensuing year.

The conference has concluded