MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18415, 23 June 1925, Page 11

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

—-—« MAYOR'S VISIT TO WELLINGTON. AN INTERESTING REPORT. The following interesting report., dealing with his recent mission to 'Wellington, was presented by the Mayor. Mr J. K. Archer, to the meeting of the City Council last night:—

As your representative at the meeting of the executive of the Municipal Association, I had a very busy time in Wellington on Thursday and Fjidav lasf.

Besides several meetings of the executive, we had two group deputations to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. Jl. F. Bollard. At the former of tho two wo were accompanied by representatives of the Automobile Associations of both Islands, the motor traders, and others. The primary purpose of this interview was to seek some alterations in connexion with the identification plates on motor vchiclos. The opinion of all the authorities affected confirms the view of our own inspectors, viz., that the present plates are almost useless for identification purposes. The Minister was advised to change the present colour to black and white, and to have permanent plates with a permanent number for each vehicle.

Tho second deputation to the Minister was from the executive of the Municipal Association alone, and it placed before the Minister the various findings of the Municipal Conferences for the two years 1923 and 192-1.

Roll at Municipal Elections. Ono of the very importont matters dealt with was the question of the municipal roll, in connexion with which one of the smaller boroughs of the Dominion had given notice of motion to make, municipal enrolment compulsory. Ultimately it was agreed to recommend the Minister to make the Parliamentary roll operative for the purposes of municipal elections. It was felt that this would be the simplest way out of the difficulty, and that all that would be required would be to transfer from the Parliamentary roll the voters within the city boundaries. For the purpose of loan polls, indication could bo given as to which of the voters were ratepayers. Absentee Permits.

It was also resolved to ask for absentee permits for municipal elections, and, further, that any ratepayer whose name had been omitted from the roll should havo the right to vote upon making a statutory declaration to the Town Clerk. Municipal Accounts.

In regard to municipal accounts, it was decided to recommend the Government to make provision by means of which the credit balances oh municipal accounts shall be sot off against debits on other accounts or, as an alternative, municipalities shall have the right to deposit loan moneys or any other sums which are in credit •in the Post Office Savings Bank.

Motor Vehicles Act. In regard to the additional regulations which are being made in connexion with the issue of licenses to motor drivers under "The Motor Vehicles-Act, 1924," it was resolved to ask, as suggested by our own Chief Inspector, that it shall be obligatory rather than optional, on the part of public bodies, to obtain police reports before people are licensed to drive public vehicles.

Appointment of Deputy-Mayor. A remit-was j>laccd before the executive by one of the smaller boroughs of the Dominion, raising the question of the legality or otherwise of appointing a Deputy-Mayor to act for the whole period of the life, of the Council, when it was found that such appointment is illegal and therefore must be inoperative. The opinio* of Mr Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, which is confirmed .by other local authorities, is that a person can only bo appointed to act as Deputy-Mayor from time to time as his services are required. The Municipal Corporations Act must be amended before a general appointment can »>c made. The executive der cidcd to ask the Government to make such amendment.

Expenses of Delegates. As to expenses of representatives o£ the various pub lie bodies affiliated with the Municipal Association, the present practice is that.oach public body pays for its own representatives both to the conference and meetings of the executive.

The executive has now decided to request the conference to resolve that while each body affiliated shall pay the expenses of*its representatives in attending the annual conference, the Association shall pay the expenses of attendance at executive meetings, tho reason being that the executive serves all the bodies affiliated.

Milk Supply. Iu the matter of the milk supply, it was resolved to ask the Government to give municipalities power to license or otherwise, people who are selling milk in the towns or cities, but are residing outside and are, therefore, not now, in some cases, under the necessary supervision as to • cleanliness, etc. Cr. D. G. Sullivan, referring to' the motor regulations, said it should be made obligatory on tho part of the Superintendent of, Police to supply to the Council an adequate report concerning applicants for licenses.