STRENUOUS DAYS

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 708, 8 March 1933, Page 7

STRENUOUS DAYS

Business at Municipal Conference.

After spending two strenuous days at the Municipal Conference at Rotorua in association with the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), Councillor J. W. Beanland and Mr J. S. Neville, Councillor M. E. Lyons has returned to Christchurch impressed with the fact that much valuable work was put through. The remainder of the Christchurch City Council delegates, and Mr E. H. Andrews, who represented the Tramway Board, are remaining in the North Island for a time.

Although he missed the ferry steamer at Lyttelton and had to cross to Wellington from Picton, Mr Lyons travelled to Rotorua, by the same train as his fellow-delegates. When he missed the ferry he immediately arranged to go overland from Christchurch to Picton, and 'then journey to Wellington by the Tamahine. He arrived at the Wellington station twenty minutes before the Limited express left for Auckland, and was extended a hearty welcome by the other delegates who had assembled to catch the train.

Discussing the results of the conference this morning Mr Lyons said that one of the most important matters put through was the taking of steps to secure by way of negotiations a reduction of interest charges on London loans. The conference was unanimous that something along those lines was necessary. Fortunately, the Christchurch City Council had less than £250,000 raised in London, but the position was acute with some of the North Island local bodies. Particular attention was paid to unemployment matters and a special committee was set up to bring forward proposals to place before the Government with a view to utilising the labour available in more permanent work than was the case at present.

The question of rating arose out of the Urban Farm Lands Rating Act and local bodies were urged to co-operate in the general working of the Act. It was evident that Parliament was determined to give special consideration to small farms within boroughs. A good deal of consideration was also given to the Municipal Corporation Bill, which was before Parliament and would be dealt with at the session later on in the year. The conference was not favourable to the unification proposals jn the Bill whereby one local body would have the right to initiate proceedings to absorb another local body. Practically every speaker, however, admitted the advisability of amalgamating lpcal bodies generally.