COUNTY COUNCILS' CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 6907, 18 July 1901, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS' CONFERENCE.

1 The Counties Bill. (By Ttkgraph—Press Association). Wklli.vgto.y, Wednesday. TSSf} County Councils' Conference opencS on Tuesday and immediately proceeded to discuss the Counties Bill. Thoro was considerable debate on the proposed constitution of ('•'stricls, and in this connection, clause 2 was stiuck out. On the clause providing that every new , county sha'l be divided into rne ridings, a proposal that 15 ridings be inserted was agreed to, A number of delegates urged that in tho constitution of the new ridings the rateable value as well as population should be taken into account, /* and with the view of making provision to this effect, clause 7 was struck out and a new clause to replace the one deleted is to bedrafted by the revising committee. The Conference resolved to recommend a reduction of area comprising town districts. A resolution was moved in tho d'rection of abolishing road d!stricts in order to save expense and dual administration. Sir George Clifford and several dclogates expressed the hope that tho provisions of the B :, l 'i regard to road districts would not be interfered with. Others thought that where County Councils and Itoad Boards overlipped each other, something should he done. The question was still under discussion when the conference adjoocd, a '. . Wellington-, This Day. Jjfite Counties Conference yesterday, au«7 much debate, on the proposal to abolish Road Boards, amendment by Mr Lang was adopted in favor of enabling tho ratepayers of the county to decide bj a coll which foim of local Government it wi'l adopt. On the franchise question il was resolved to revert to the qualification under the Counties Act, 1880. II was resolved in the case of objection to enrolment, thot the person whoso qualification is challenged, be supplied with a copy of .the objection, and informed when an enquiry is to be held, The County Chairman's emoulincnt was fixed at 4100 instead of £4OO in the Bill. The BUggcstcd mir'mum number of councillors was excised, and the number was left at- fifteen. The Conference affirmed the principle of tricnuis' "lstead ofbien- . nial elections.