MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5170, 17 June 1891, Page 4

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

o (By TsiiBSBArH.) WELLINGTON, June 16. The Municipal Conference was resumed at 10 o'clock this morning. It was decided that a clause be inserted m the Act, making it a penal offence for owners of houses to lot or allow the same to be used for immoral purposes. A motion that it is desirable that the amount of open area of ground which should be attached to each dwelling house Bhould be fixed by statutory legislation was loat. It was resolved that power be given to municipal bodua to compel owners of vacant sections to fenco the same m all cases, and failing the owners tha municipal bodies may fence and chargo the coats of such fencing on the hnd. A motion that the Legislature bo asked to more clearly define what is a " common lodging house," and also to empower municipalities to approve or disapprove of the internal fittingß 'of suoh houses, etc., was lo>t by 12 to 10. Tbo City Council at its special meeting today eipressed its approval of the present mode of elooting the mayor, and the council's delegates at the Municipal Conferfnce are to be instructed to oppose any attempt to alter the existing state of tbings. Members thought it. a dangerous step to go back to the system of electing the mayor from council table only. This afternoon section 101 of the Municipal Corporations Act was amended m tho direction of empowering councillors m the abience of the mayor to elect one of their number to presido at meetings who, shall have and msy exercise all the functions of the mayor. A resolution was carried thnt a councillor elected as mayor oball bo allowed to retain his seatna n. councillor until his instalment as mayor or his successor is appointed. It was decided to strike out tho words " at noon " m olause 99 of the Act bo as to leave it to each council to fir the hour for the installation of the major. The Mayor of Nelson moved to alter the present Act so as to provide that the mayor shall be chosen from the council, or from ex-councillors. The Mayor of St. Albans secondod, and the Mayor of Christchurch and Mr Phillips, of Parnell, favoured the motion. The Mayors of Petono, Wanganui, Dunedin, Aslibarton, Auckland, and Oiunaru opposed it. Ultimately the motion if ac rejected by 15 to 57. On tho motion' of tho Mayor of Wellington, a permissive clause was added, providing for more than one polling booth for the eleotion of mayor when neceesary. An amendment, suggested by the Mayor of Dunedin, to allow licensed victuallers elected as mayors to sit en tbe tench , was lost by 13 to 11. The Mayor of Lyttelton moved the following addition to the Municipal Corporations Act — " Where no loan on water works exists after maintaining such waterworks m good repair, and all expenees connected with supplying water are Drovided, the Council is hereby empowered to transfer the surplus to general account." This was agreed to.