MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144199, 16 September 1913, Page 4

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

SOAIE LEGISLATIVE QUESTIONS. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. AVELLINGTON, September 15. The Legislative Committee of the Alunicipkl Association of Now Zealand met to-day, the Alayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presiding. The. Christchurch City Council asked tho committee’s support of a proposal to amend tho Municipal Corporations Act in tho direction’ of providing for the introduction of proportional voting for mayors'and councils. After discussion the matter was postponed for a week. On representations from Petone regarding the rating of Government property, tho following resolution was adopted;—“That in the case of rates on workers’ dwellings, where tho rates cannot be recovered ‘from tho occupier, the Government, be made liable for payment of tho, amount thereof,” Tho Committee resolved: —“That in tho amendment of the Local Bodies’ Loans Act the. rate of interest of the renewal of. loans be raised to the maximum of 5i per cent., instead of five per cent, as at present.” The Dunedin Expansion League suggested the appointment of a 'government engineer to dovoto special attention to . roads, and secure that public money might be more judiciously spent. It "was resolved to, take no oilier action beyond referring tho letter to the Government. „ It was decided to ask for an amendment of tho Municipal Corporations Act in order to prevent mock ballot papers being issued, containing a lessor number of names than those of the actual candidates standing.