CIVIC PROBLEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 8

CIVIC PROBLEMS

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE WIDE RANGE OF REMITS PROGRESS OF DELIBERATIONS [ Pei Pres* Association. J TIMARU, March 10. A comprehensive agenda of 108 re mits covering practically all phases of civic administration was presented to delegates at the first business session of the New Zealand Municipal Association Conference at Timaru today. The president of the assoeia tion, Mr. T. Jordan (Masterton) occupied the chair. The annual report, which was adopted, covered a wide range of subjects, including industrial activity re suiting from legislation and tne proposed amalgamation of local bodies. The balance-sheet showed an excess of expenditure over income of £35 8s 6d. Good progress was made during the day, the main agenda of remits being completed. Four remits were advanced by the Timaru Borough, calculated to overcome difficulties such as confronted a returning officer last June when, consequent upon the deatn of the former Mayor, two candidates entered a campaign for the vacancy and one withdrew within seven days of the election, thus creating a delicate legal position. The conference passed a remit endorsing the principle contained in an Auckland remit that local body officers should have the right to appeal to a Statutory board of appeal. Provision of legislation to permit local bodies to require sub-dividing owners to permanently form and seal, to the council s satisfaction, any rjght-of-way or pathway to a section without frontage to a dedicated road, was sought in a Devonport remit which was carried. The conference referred to tne executive to discuss with the Minister of Finance a remit from Auckland dealing with an amendment of the definition of “rateable property” in the Rating Act and the Municipal Corporations’ Act, so that a local- body would have the power to rate owners of premises which were leased partially or wholly to the Crown. An amendment of section 69 of the Rating Act to provide for no remission of rates where the owner had not made an effort to let the property at a reasonable rental was sought in a Mt. Eden remit, which was carried. Tauranga succeeded in securing support for a remit that the Government be asked not to interfere in the control of electrical supply unless the particular supply authority proved to be incapable of conducting Its supply. A Motueka remit carried was, “that it be a recommendation to the conference that a cause be inserted in the Local Bodies Amalgamation Bill that no borough be amalgamated with a county without a referendum of the people.” Conference agreed Io seek representation of boroughs on district highways coune'ls.