TARANAKI LOCAL BODIES

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1927, Page 4

TARANAKI LOCAL BODIES

THE PAST YEAR’S WORK VARIOUS MATTERS DISCUSSED, THE ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Own Reporter.) Eltham, May 31. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association was held at Eltham to-day. In the absence of the president (Mr, C. J. Beleher), Mr. J. S. Connett (Taranaki County) was voted to the chair. There were also present: Messrs. J. B. Murdoch and E. A. Washer (Hawera County), P. Skoglund (Stratford Borough), T. R. Anderson (Stratford County), D. A. Stewart (Normanby Town Board), I. J. Bridger and L. Nairn (Eltham Borough), C. E. McGuinness and R. J. Knuekey (Eltham County), A. Gamlin and E. Long (Waimate West County), J. W. Winfield (Inglewood Borough), H. A. Foreman (Clifton County), R. Stuart (Inglewood County), and E. A. Pacey (Hawera Borough). An apology was received for the unavoidable absence of the president. A review of the details of the association’s position was not available to the extent it would otherwise have been. Mr. Belcher's annual report stated: — “I have to congratulate the association upon the good work carried out during the financial year, as well as upon the financial position. Since the association was formed the full subscription was collected on one occasion only, since when half subscriptions cnly have been imposed. Notwithstanding this fact, the amount to the credit of the association on March 31 was £44 4s Id. “During the year four meetings of the association were held, in addition to numerous meetings of the executive. The principal matters coming before the association were the allocation of heavy traffic fees and the eradication of noxious weeds. “The efforts of the association to bring about amended legislation to cope with the noxious weeds menace, has not, so far, resulted in the benefits sought. That matter will therefore require to engage the attention of the association throughout the ensuing year. LOCAL BODIES AND UNIONS. “Several movements have, throughout the year, been made to bring local authorities within the scope of labour unions. So far, however, nothing definite has been accomplished in this respect, although the matter has not been definitely disposed of by the court. This matter will also require the attention of the association, and united action in that respect, it is fully anticipated, will be forthcoming.” Letters were received from the following bodies advising of the adjustments of heavy traffic fees which had been made with neighbouring bodies: Eltham Borough (Eltham county 75 per cent., Eltham borough 25 per cent.); Hawera borough and Hawera county (threequarters to county and one-quarter to borough); Egmont county (£7O of nett fees collected paid to Opunake Town Board, equal to about 12 per cent.); Waitara borough (four-fifths to the Clifton county and one-fifth to the Waitara borough); New Plymouth (35 per cent, to New Plymouth borough and 65 per cent, to the Taranaki county). The Clifton County Council wrote regarding the allocation of heavy traffic fees, complaining that the system was operating to its disadvantage. “I have a great deal of sympathy with Waitara and Clifton, as their complaint is similar to that of the Hawera county. They are, in my mind, entitled to the proportion of the license fees paid according to the mileage,” said Mr. Murdoch. In the Hawera county there was a stretch of main highway to the south for which not a penny was received, but in respect of which the Wanganui group benefited. The same position, no doubt, obtained in Waitara and Clifton, who probably lost a good amount of fees which were taken either by New Plymouth or To Kuiti. Mr. Murdoch considered mileage should be the deciding factor. SERVICE CAR DIFFICULTY. Mr. Connett said the great difficulty was with through service cars. It had been thought advisable to leave the service ears out of it altogether and to compensate those counties which were receiving less than they would, on this account, be entitled to. Waitara and Clifton, apparently, had not been so well off as had been anticipated, and it was a matter of seeing to them during the coming year. No doubt in this way the position would be got over satisfactorily. Mr, Stuart moved that New Plymouth borough be asked to send in their allocation of fees. Mr. Murdoch said he would not support the. motion, as it was merely a question of agreement between the adjacent local bodies. It was decided that all districts should supply their returns quarterly of fees received. The motion of Mr. Pacey that the regulation whereby drivers of motorlorries are required to supply returns of mileages, be suspended was withdrawn, following Mr. Bridger’s contention that the association should not interfere with the administration of the various local bodies, but that it should be optional for the local authority to proceed in that particular matter as it thought best.

“I think we should do everything in motoring activities to provide for the protection of drivers who have clean drivers’ licenses,” said Mr. E. Long in supporting Mr. Stuart’s motion, “that endorsements on drivers’ licenses be notified by the clerk of the Magistrate’s Court to the licensing authorities.” The motion was carried unanimously. After much discussion on the questions involved, the meeting carried the following resolutions unanimously:— ‘ That this association support the elim ination of the preference clause relating to unionists as affecting local bodies’ drivers.” “That all local bodies should be advised to do all in their power to avoid being brought under any award.” The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mr. C. J. Belcher; vice-president, Mr. J. 8. Connett; auditor, Mr. W. Waters; committee (five members, two for boroughs and three for counties), Messrs. C. J. Belcher, J. 8. Connett and J. B. Murdoch (counties), and F. E. Wilson and W. G. Walkley (boroughs).