MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14769, 7 October 1921, Page 2

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

DECISIONS ARRIVED AT. r~ . , ■'By Telegraph.—Press Association). WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Municipal Conference carried a remit, urging that. Section G i of Hie Rating Act of 1008 he amended, so that if property is arbitrarily withheld from a bona-fide tenant in order to provide for a quick sale Hum Hie property shall he liable to full rates. The proposed legislation in '.ha Main Highways Bill was the subject of discussion at the New Zealand Munie.pa! Association Conference, when the following motion was carried : —"This conference is of opinion that the cost of constructing and maintaining the main arterial roads of the Dominion should be a charge on Hie Consolidated Fund, but objects to Hie burden of maintaining such portions of such roads as lie within the boundaries of city nr town districts being placed upon the city or borough concerned without sharing in Ihe revenue proposed to he. raised from the licensing of motor vehicles, etc."

It was decided that legislation be sought to empower municipal associations to provide a fidelity guarantee fund by levying all local bodies affiliated: that the maximum general rate leviable by town boards tie increased from I'd to 2d in I tie it on the capital value; that the Government he urged to take steps to introduce a uniform set of compulsory by-laws dealing with sanitary plumbing and drainage; Dial the Municipal Gurporalions Act be amended to permit limited companies, linns and instiliilions, who themselves are ratepayers, to register a vote cither at loan polls or elections by the appointment of a representative whose name must appear on the rate book, such representative not to lose his own or his wife’s qualification vole. The conference decided to recommcnl. legislation living the standard of purity of gas supplied by municipal undertakings with charges according to its heating properties. WELLINGTON, Thursday. A remit was passed urging that in future all pigs sold for human consumption shall ho killed and inspected at a public abattoir. In view of Anzac Day coming within a day nr two of the municipal elections, it was recommended that the elections should take place on Ihe first Wednesday in May, and that new councils should take office a week afler I hat clay.

It was resolved that power be given to borough councils to raise loans by special order without taking a poll of ratepayers for Ihe payment of compensation in eases of land taken, dedicated or purchased for widening streets, debentures issued in respect “f such loons to be legal currency for .lie purpose of such, payments, provided that the total amount of lire loans so raised shall not exceed £SOOO in one year. It was also resolved that the Motor Regulation Act of 1008 be amended to provide that all registration of motor vehicles shall be renewed annually.