County Councils Conference.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11720, 22 July 1901, Page 2

County Councils Conference.

THE COUNTIES BILL, f?JSB PKBSS ASSOOIATIOK.T Wellington, July 20. — The Counties Conference adopted the following motion this morning :—l.: — 1. That the Government be ?sked to amend the Rating Act in the direction of special loans being raised on unimproved value ; 2f That the time has arrived when natives should be liable for full rates, and not only half as at present; 3. That rating on all native lands, where the title has been ascertained, should be the same as that owned and occupied by other persons in the colony, and that the person whose name first appears on the list of owners shall be the person to sue for all rates due ; also that native Jands should be included in a special rating district, where, it is shown that such lands are benefitted by the expenditure of special rater; 4. That power be given to local bodies to pay interest on special loans in special d^slricts out of the ordinary revenue of such tsp xial distr'cts ; 5. That a clause be ito'-c-ted to make the land included in a. special district, and afterwards passing into the hands of natives, liable for a 'special rate. The Conference recorded the opinion that Crown lands in special districts should be made liable for rates. A resolution was carried protesting against the practice of the Audit Department in dealing with- statutory inland sheets, of treating separate "accounts as separate' rate accounts. It was resolved there should be Boards of Review relating to land tax valuations, such Bourds to consist of the Stipendiary Magistrate and two qualified men of local experience. Another resolution declared that the Valuation of Land . Act in its operation has proved very unsatisfactory, and it is essential either that the Act be repealed or thoroughly competent valuers be appointed; that a fair definition of improvements be inserted in the Act, and the present excessive charges to local bodies amended. An opinion was expressed by the Conference that Government should make' some concessions in the matter of travelling expenses of members attending future conf ere ices.