COUNTIES ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15309, 9 August 1923, Page 2

COUNTIES ASSOCIATION.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. THE PRESIDENT'S • ADDRESS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The twelfth conference >of the Counties' Association was opened today, with the largest attendance on record. The president, Mr A. E. Jul], in his opening address, referred specially to the question of the main high-ways and the history of the legislation, which he regretted was rushed at the end of the session. The Counties' Association executive's recommendation was accepted in regard to the appointment of a boaTd- Mr Jull criticised the Highways Act on the ground of vagueness, which might be cleared up in practice. In respect of the board's functions,-- the grouping of counties into highways districts and the creation Of highway board , councils were most' important from the local authorities' .point, of view. RepresenCation on these councils in the executive is • difficult problem, as some districts were comprised of from ten to seventeen counties, with disparity in size and valuation. The loans for providing the various " counties' contribution to the capital- cost of the ,work should be raised by the Government. It was desirable that a clear line should be followed, determining what ■works were reconstructive and 1 what were maintenance. The success of the'Act depended largely tra the working of the district highway councils, which might bring. about an amalgamation of many of the present counties, In proportion to the willingness district councils evidenced to administer the Act. There was a general desire to throw more of the activities of the Act on local authorities, leaving the Highways Board to be more or less an advisory body. The reluctance to shoulder the" administration would result in the very centralisation which the Counties' Association always desired to avoidMr R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs/-said' the obstacle' -to the merging of counties would be removed by .legislation, providing that there would be no..decrease in the Government subsidy'to the district as a consequence of' merging, as there wpuld he if the counties merged today. There would be do compulsion to- merge, but legislation would enable merging by voluntary agreement or by a petition of one-or more counties concerned. A commission was to inquire into the proposal. -.Hon. J...G- Coates, Minister of Pubflic Works, made a ;,frank , plea 4or greater" «j-operation;;:hetween. counties tod the Department,.the ;bettei- organisation of constructive works and % more expeditious- allocation of public money, doing 'avsay.-with red tape. As far as possible Counties would appoint the . most competent engirieetfs, to enable the Public Works engineers' to devote themselves to more important work.; Politics had nothing to do with the matter. .The conference was most favourably. Impressed with the candid statement of the position. '