CONFERENCE ENDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20674, 12 March 1937, Page 10

CONFERENCE ENDS

VENUE OF NEXT GATHERING POPULAR PRESIDENT MASTERTON’S MAYOR HONOURED New Plymouth will be the venue for the 1938 conference of the Municipal Associations of New Zealand according to a decision of the conference which concluded in Timaru yesterday. Mr T. Jordan (Masterton) presided.

The first remit to be considered yesterday was the following, from the Napier Borough Council: “That the Municipal Corporations Act be amended to empower municipal corporations to take over, construct and maintain public rights-of-way for the purpose of providing rear access to properties in the business areas of boroughs and cities, such public rights-of-way to be purely by way of extra access and not to be deemed legal access under Section 125 of the Public Works Act 1928, and to lay electric lines, telephone lines, sewers, water mains and stormwater drainage along any such rights-of-way. Note: This will assist in avoiding traffic congestion in streets and save the owners of business properties the necessity of providing rear access by side entrances.”

The remit was referred to the Executive.

The Wairoa Borough Council moved as follows: “That the Government be urged to pass appropriate legislation so that the provisions of the Thames Borough Commissioner Amendment Act 1934 shall apply to all Boroughs.” In moving the adoption of the remit, Mr H. L. Harker (Wairoa) said the remit aimed to prevent some people, who know their way about, from obtaining revaluations and having their

rates reduced by half, compared with neighbouring property owners who did not know how to get revaluations. It did not take away the right to secure a revaluation, but it would prevent one property owner getting a concession at the expense of a neighbour. The motion was seconded by Mr T. Jackson (Rotorua), who said that the provision of the Thames Act should be made general. It was pointed out by Mr W. Appleton (Wellington) that the Thames Act was made to meet a special case. It was decided to refer the remit to the Executive for redrafting. On the motion of Messrs Harker and C. L. Grange (Thames) the following remit was carried: “That the Minister of Health be asked to pay reasonable travelling expenses to his inspectors attending conferences that have the approval of his department.” National Street Day The Executive reported that at the last conference the question of holding a national street day appeal in aid of the funds of the New Zealand Red Cross Society and the Order of St.

John was referred to the Executive, which had received a letter from the joint chairman of the Joint Council of the Order of st. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society stating that the Joint Council was representative of the whole of New Zealand and was definitely a national body. The Council W’as functioning harmoniously with equal representation of both the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red

Cross Society and W’ould shortly be enlarged to include heads of relative Government Departments and leaders of all sections of the community. The joint chairman advised that the Association need have no hesitation in leaving the distribution of any funds collected from an annual street day in the hands of the Joint Council. The New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund was already in existence and was available immediately for disaster relief purposes. The matter was considered by the Executive and it was resolved to place the matter before conference with a recommendation that a national street day in aid of the funds of the New Zealand Red Cross Society and of the Order of St. John be held throughout New Zealand on a day in the third week In July in every year, the day of the week to be that most suitable to the various boroughs of New Zealand. Mr C. O. Morse (Napier) explained that the third week of July had been selected, as July 15 was the anniversary of the birth of the Order of St. John. The proposal was agreed to. Deputies to Executive The Executive moved: “That it be a recommendation to conference that the offices of vice-presidents of the Association be made elective. This resolution is forwarded to conference with the recommendation of the Executive that the rules of the Association be amended to provide that the mayors of the four principal cities of the Dominion be authorised to appoint a standing deputy who must be a councillor who may attend meetings of the Executive Committee in the unavoidable absence of the mayor.’" The resolution was carried. Mr A. Rosser (Auckland) referred to the pioneer work done by the Napier Borough Council in testing for tuberculosis in cows and suggester that the

conference should offed its congratulations and give some assistance towards the expense involved in framing a set of by-laws which had been adopted by many other municipalities. The suggestion was supported by Messrs M. F. E. Cooney (Oamaru) and P. C. Vinnell (Timaru) who expressed appreciation of the assistance given by Napier. The matter was referred to the Executive for favourable consideration. President Re-elected Many glowing tributes were paid to the ability, tact and courtesy of Mr T. Jordan (Masterton), who was unanimously re-elected to the presidency of the Association for another year. The election was greeted by thunderous applause and “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” was enthusiastically sung by the delegates. In acknowledging the confidence placed in him, Mr Jordan expressed his indeptedness to members of the Executive for their support. He attributed the succes he had achieved to the improved outlook, the fact that the Government were “men who are prepared to do something, I think,” and to the support and assistance of the Department of Internal Affiairs.

Vice-presidents elected were: The Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and New Plymouth.

The following were elected to the Executive: The Mayors of Napier, Lower Hutt, Sumner, Hawera, Ashburton, Wairoa, the Commissioners of the Otautau and Papatoetoe Town Boards, and the chairman of the Auckland Transport Board. Venue of 1938 Conference Rotorua, New Plymouth, Auckland and Palmerston North were suggested as the venue of the 1938 conference. New Plymouth being selected. The delegates' appreciation of the arrangements made for the conference and of the hospitality extended to them was expressed by Mr J. W. Beanland (Christchurch), who also returned thanks for the entertainment provided for delegates’ wives by a committee of ladles. Votes of thanks were accorded the Department’s of State and in particular the Department of Internal Affairs and its representative, Mr A. G. Harper; the retiring Executive; Mr J. O’Shea (legal adviser), the secretary (Mr A. Eaton Hurley) and the Timaru newspapers. Yesterday afternoon, delegates were taken by omnibus to Walmate, where they were the guests of the Mayor (Mr G. Dash) and in the evening were entertained at a social in the Bay tearooms. This morning they will be the guests of the Mayor of Geraldine (Mr B. R. Macdonald) on a visit to the town, and a majority of the delegates will catch the north and south expresses this afternoon.