MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9304, 3 August 1908, Page 3

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 3. The tenth annual conference of the Municipal Association was opened today, the Hon T. W. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington, presiding. The chairman, in welcoming the delegates, said tho conference had not received much encouragement in the past, but it was hoped that its deliberations in the future would have greater weight with the Government. It was resolved that the conference should consider the advisableness of local bodies establishing <a joint accident fund, and that in .compiling the district electors' list. of a borough divided into wards, instead of providing 6eparate lists for each ward, the names of electors in all wards shall be incorporated in combined lists, each list to contain separate columns showing in which ward each elector is entitled to vote. In moving a motion having for its object the extension of the municipal franchise to all adult persons, in so far as elections are concerned, the mover explained that under tho present law half a dozen people could get registration if they had <a lease of a single living room. This, it was contended, was unfair to people who wore paying a heavier Bum for. board and lodging, and who were ineligible to vote. The motion was lost by twenty-six votes to twenty-four. It was decided : — (1) That the district electors' rolls of boroughs should be tho electoral rolls used at all elections and polls by local authorities within boroughs; (2) that all such elections and polls should bo under the provisions of the Local Elections Act ; and (3) that provision should also be made to adopt tho district electors' rolls for use at Drainage Board, Tramway Board, River Board or other local elections for the purpose of any poll under the Local Bodies Loan Act, and of any other statute relating to the raising of loans affecting the ratepayers, the Council to be empowered to eliminate from the rolls the names of electors who do not possess a ratepayer's qualification referred to in the statute authorising the raising of the loan. A proposal to prevent plumping at municipal elections was thrown out on the voices. A motion that the term of office of a Mayor should be two years was also i rejected.