COUNTIES' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14015, 21 September 1909, Page 4

COUNTIES' CONFERENCE.

In a circular letter addressed tob the Taranaki County Council, Mr. A I)j Atkinson, secretary of the New Zealand Counties Association, says thafc the executive ©ommUtee has considered the question of -Che advisability of holding a conference of delegates this yearf but as , Parliament, will not meet tilL, the middle of October, and as the c#ferences were always hold some timqjduring the first fortnight of ParliaJßent, it was felt that it would be most inconvenient for county delegates $9 be called together at such a date. 'i ' Although there were many matters dfj importance' Vlesejrring of .the attention of the Legislature; the executive committee considered thtt as /the GoTOrh«*«M*i not given&iny specific indication of its intention cry little, if any, good would result if trconference were held, as it would on|y be going, over thesame ground a» was and »|der these circumstances it wi s consi^red inadvisable to hold a coi ferenc* ftms y *Tlje !X sufcs*)pfi£fl Cb iritable* \Aid BiH wotdaf tfr|^»oducfd. but "this measure haft w*en alreadyi reviewed at a conference of delegates ?ren csentmg Hospital and Charitable Ai I 5« irdsf^ It was most probable that a i ie*ai ire pealing with Native lands y oul bei introduced this session, wh< it ie vfxed Am^km of the rating ofthfe lands would, no doubt, be dealt Jwitt Jha matter had been already dpnsilertd by a conference of delegates frepfesettf ing the counties in Auckland 'Province, in whose districts the rating of Native lends was a question of most Vital importance, and the executive committee would support them in the effort to have an improvement made in this longstanding grievance. . The Prime Minister some months ago indicated the intention on the part of the Government to bring forward proposals relating to the creation of national main roads, bu>-JM*t Sufficient details were made known to give an idea of what was intended. The Executive Committee felt that this qnestibn should receive the careful consideration ot the local autfaorkwfcjjiud^SWSested that such phaWWflfe rolfoirfng w.ero deserving of attention :— (a) What .is likely to be the definition of a main rDftd? (b) Are the main roads to be created by ParHameni and battled for en the floor of the House? X?> Are counties likely under sue* a »>'Bteßi to receive fair treatment? (d) If the Government Ukes over main roads is it likely that it will do so instead of paying the present subsidies? The executive snggested that it it was found that the Government brought down legislation this session proposmL' rcrious alteration in the present locnl government law the local authorities should request their representatives'm Parliament to ,«n?e the Government before proceeding further to circulate the bills amongst the local bodies most interested. In view of possibilities, however, the executive suggested that the loml ruthorities might appoint their delegates* .and forthwith notify -the secretary of such appointment, so that if ♦be executive found it absolutely esarntinl to hold a conference the delegate:* oculd be quickly, called -togeiheo^